Schistosomiasis control.

A lengthy policy article on schistosomiasis control (Dec 6, p 1932) surely represents a sign of renewed interest in the control and research on this disease. However, we would like to complement the article with a few issues to clarify the current WHO policy and the commitment of the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI) to sustained control of morbidity due to schistosomiasis.

Jürg Utzinger and colleagues state that World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution 54.19 does not contain recommendations for preventive measures. We would like to point out that the resolution does recommend preventive measures. It urges WHO Member States “to promote access to safe water, sanitation and health education through intersectoral collaboration” and “to ensure that any development activity likely to favour the emergence or spread of parasitic diseases is accompanied by preventive measures to limit their impact”. WHO welcomes the international momentum in favour of provision of clean water and sanitation which will eventually lead to long-term transmission control, provided sufficient quantities of safe water are made available in transmission areas so that individual households will have safe water for daily activities other than their needs for drinking and cooking.