WHO/FAO/OIE guidelines for the surveillance, prevention and control of taeniosis/cysticercosis

Overview

Taeniosis and cysticercosis are two parasitic diseases that in the past have not always been recognized for their importance. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that greater priority should be given to these zoonoses because of their economic impact, particularly in resource-poor countries, and their public health burden. They are also now recognized as an increasing problem in some regions, such as Africa. The now accepted linkage between epilepsy and neurocysticercosis in countries endemic for Taenia solium is further impetus for allocating more effort to the control of taeniosis/cysticercosis.

As is the case for all zoonoses, the control of taeniosis/cysticercosis, requires a very close collaboration between both veterinary and medical public health services at a national level. It was with the aim of assisting those responsible for taeniosis/cysticercosis control and prevention that these Guidelines were prepared and jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). This joint publication is another example of the three organizations working together to assist their member countries in designing, implementing and standardizing control strategies against zoonoses on both national and international levels. This is the result of years of effort by FAO, WHO and OIE to educate and to organize the surveillance and control of parasitic diseases world-wide.