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BOOK REVIEW |
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| Year : 1996 | Volume
: 50
| Issue : 2 | Page : 48 |
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Book review
DD Banker
,
Correspondence Address:
D D Banker
,
How to cite this article:
Banker D D. Book review. Indian J Med Sci 1996;50:48 |
ONCHOCERCIASIS AND ITS CONTROL - WHO Technical Report Series 852. World Health Organization, Geneva 1995. pp. 103.
Onchocerciasis is still endemic in 34 countries in spite of control programme, affecting over 17 million people in tropical Africa, Latin America and the Arabian peninsula. It continues to , be a major cause of blindness, severe eye lesions and disfiguring skin disease and has a considerable social and economic impact. In recent years the advent of IVERMECTIN, a safe and effective drug which destroys microfilaria, has raised hopes of eliminating onchocerciasis as a public health problem. This report of an international group of experts reviews both the disease and its control. The various sections summarize the current knowledge of the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus, the blackfly vectors, clinical and epidemiological features, geographical distribution, social and economic impact, diagnosis, treatment, control and research. The two main strategies for onchocerciasis control-chhemotherapy with invermectin and vector suppression are discussed in detail. The book is recommended for those interested in tropical medicine and parasitilogy.
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