ONCHOCERCIASIS CONTROL - MOVING TOWARDS THE MILLENNIUM

The recognition of onchocerciasis as a major public health problem in the savanna belts of West Africa resulted in the establishment of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) in 1974. Control was initially based on vector control by weekly larviciding. The OCP is now in trans ition towards its Fnal phase in which repented treatment with ivermect in, a safe and effective microfilaricide, is incorporated with vector control, or in certain circumstances is used alone. Ivermectin distrib ution hingeing on sustainable community systems is the basis of a new programme in endemic African countries outside the OCP and in the Amer icas. David Molyneux and John Davies describe the latest trends and de velopments related to onchocerciasis control.