Ectoparisitic Diseases in the Region of the Americas: Developing a Roadmap to Determine the Regional Epidemiological Situation and Identify Actions to Reduce the Impact

ABSTRACT

During the 55th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in 2016, the Plan of Action for the Elimination of Neglected Infectious Diseases and Post-elimination Actions 2016-2022 (document CD55/15) was approved. One of its objectives was to evaluate the regional epidemiological situation of other neglected infectious diseases, including ectoparasitic infections. Within this framework, and given the need to identify actions to advance toward the established objective, the meeting “Ectoparasitic Diseases in the Region of the Americas Developing a Roadmap to Determine the Epidemiological Situation and Identify Actions to Reduce the Impact" was held in Belo Horizonte (Brazil) on 29-30 July 2019. The meeting participants recommended the implementation of actions in three main components epidemiological mapping and surveillance, integrated interventions, and operations and applied research. Based on the experiences presented by the delegates of Brazil and Colombia, as well as the results of a review of literature on the epidemiological characteristics of ectoparasitic diseases in the Region of the Americas carried out by PAHO’s Regional Program on Neglected Infectious Diseases, it was decided that tungiasis (caused by Tunga penetrans), scabies (caused by Sarcoptes scabiei), and pediculosis capitis (caused by Pediculus humanus capitis) would be included in this initiative. In addition, myasis (caused by Dermatobia hominis and Cochliomyia hominivorax, carried by more than 30 species of flies) and hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense, and Ancylostoma tubiformae) would also be included. The proposed roadmap includes these components and recommended actions.