Elimination of schistosomiasis in China: Current status and future prospects

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Aug 5;15(8):e0009578. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009578. eCollection 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem among all disease-endemic countries in 2030 is an ambitious goal. Recent achievements resulting from mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel is promising but may need to be complemented with also other means. Schistosomiasis was highly prevalent in China before the initiation of the national schistosomiasis control program in the mid-1950s, and, at that time, the country bore the world's highest burden of schistosomiasis. The concerted control efforts, upheld without interruption for more than a half century, have resulted in elimination of the disease as a public health problem in China as of 2015. Here, we describe the current status of schistosomiasis in China, analyze the potential challenges affecting schistosomiasis elimination, and propose the future research needs and priorities for the country, aiming to provide more universal insights into the structures needed for a global schistosomiasis elimination encompassing also other endemic regions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • China / epidemiology
  • Disease Eradication*
  • Humans
  • Mass Drug Administration
  • Praziquantel / administration & dosage
  • Public Health
  • Schistosomiasis / epidemiology*
  • Schistosomiasis / prevention & control*
  • Snails

Substances

  • Praziquantel

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the grants from Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology (grant no. BZ2020003), Jiangsu Provincial Commission of Health (grant no. ZDRCA2016056, QNRC2016621 and H2018097) and Wuxi Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology (grant no. CSE31N1730). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.