New challenges in schistosomiasis control in Morocco

Cases of schistosomiasis were first detected in 1914. However, there is str ong evidence that it was prevailing in the southern part of Morocco long be fore then. As reported from different African countries, over the last thre e decades, the development of irrigation has led to the spread of the disea se to the north and centre of the country. Thereafter, a national programme of schistosomiasis control was launched by the Ministry of Health in 1983. The programme was based on case detection and treatment, snail control usi ng chemicals, and health education. It has succeeded in reducing the preval ence and intensity of infection to a level low enough to allow an eliminati on programme to be launched in 1994. The aim is to reach a complete elimina tion of the disease by the year 2004 in all provinces affected. Though subs tantial progress was made since the programme started, there is a potential risk of outbreaks in many affected provinces. Therefore, an integrated app roach including measures against the intermediate host is needed to reach t he goal of elimination. The present paper sheds some light on the features of schistosomiasis in Morocco and presents an evaluation of environmental m ethods of control of Bulinus truncatus in Tessaout Amont and Akka oasis irr igation schemes. The role of community involvement in planning and implemen ting environmental measures against the snail intermediate host in modern a nd traditional irrigation schemes is also discussed. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.