Afro-Egypt J Infect Endem Dis 2013 June ;3(2):79

 

How Morocco Succeeds in Eliminating Schistosomiasis

 

Zineb Tlamçani

 

University Hospital Center Hassan II, Fes, Morocco.,
Tzineb@hotmail.fr

 

                              

 

ABSTRACT

Schistosomiasis is an endemic parasitic infection very linked to poverty. It is considered a world health problem since it infects people from 76 different countries especially tropical and subtropical regions. For many years, Morocco was endemic for shistosome infection. The unique form is urinary schistosomiasis and the first case was described in 1914. After an alarming prevalence rate (13 416 cases) in 1973, Morocco decided to establish a strategy to control and then to eliminate schistosomiasis through three major phases (control, elimination and consolidation). Since 2004 and until now, it isn’t reported any new indigenous case. Morocco achieves the goal and succeeds in decreasing the prevalence of infection to a level of zero so eliminating schistosomiasis in all endemic geographic areas.