Sharing the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis to achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination in China / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Currently, the national schistosomiasis control program of China is moving from transmission interruption to elimination, and there are multiple challenges during the stage moving towards the progression of schistosomiasis elimination, including a high difficulty in shrinking snail-infested areas, unstable achievements for infectious source control, imperfect surveillance system and a reduction in schistosomiasis control and administration. Based on the core suggestions proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, recommendations on schistosomiasis surveillance system building, development of novel diagnostics, adjustment of the schistosomiasis control strategy and maintaining and improvements of the schistosomiasis control capability are proposed for the national schistosomiasis control program of China in the new era according to the actual status of schistosomiasis control in China. Formulation of the national schistosomiasis control strategy and goal from One Health perspective, verification of transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis, precision implementation of schistosomiasis control interventions with adaptations to local circumstances, development and application of highly sensitive and specific diagnostics are recommended for elimination of schistosomiasis in China. In addition, the implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis may guide the elimination of schistosomiasis in China.

Decoding the evolution of preventive chemotherapy schemes for schistosomiasis in China to improve the precise implementation of the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Preventive chemotherapy is one of the pivotal interventions for the control and elimination of schistosomiasis, which is effective to reduce the morbidity and prevalence of schistosomiasis. In order to promote the United Nations' sustainable development goals and the targets set for schistosomiasis control in the Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, WHO released the guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis in 2022, with major evidence-based updates of the current preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis. In China where great success has been achieved in schistosomiasis control, the preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis has been updated several times during the past seven decades. This article reviews the evolution of the WHO guidelines on preventive chemotherapy and Chinese national preventive chemotherapy schemes, compares the current Chinese national preventive chemotherapy scheme and the recommendations for preventive chemotherapy proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, and proposes recommendations for preventive chemotherapy during the future implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline, so as to provide insights into schistosomiasis control among public health professionals engaging in healthcare foreign aid.

Analysis of the new WHO guideline to accelerate the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis in China / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

On February 2022, WHO released the evidence-based guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, with aims to guide the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem in disease-endemic countries by 2030 and promote the interruption of schistosomiasis transmission across the world. Based on the One Health concept, six evidence-based recommendations were proposed in this guideline. This article aims to analyze the feasibility of key aspects of this guideline in Chinese national schistosomiasis control program and illustrate the significance to guide the future actions for Chinese national schistosomiasis control program. Currently, the One Health concept has been embodied in the Chinese national schistosomiasis control program. Based on this new WHO guideline, the following recommendations are proposed for the national schistosomiasis control program of China: (1) improving the systematic framework building, facilitating the agreement of the cross-sectoral consensus, and building a high-level leadership group; (2) optimizing the current human and livestock treatments in the national schistosomiasis control program of China; (3) developing highly sensitive and specific diagnostics and the framework for verifying elimination of schistosomiasis; (4) accelerating the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis and other parasitic diseases through integrating the national control programs for other parasitic diseases.

Endemic situation of schistosomiasis in national surveillance sites of Zhejiang Province from 2015 to 2019 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To analyze the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in national surveillance sites of Zhejiang Province, so as to provide the scientific evidence for formulating the new schistosomiasis surveillance program and consolidating schistosomiasis elimination achievements. Methods A total of 54 to 55 national surveillance sites and 6 risk monitoring sites were assigned in historical endemic regions of Zhejiang Province from 2015 to 2019, where the Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans, livestock, snails and wild feces were monitored. All data pertaining to the surveillance results were descriptively analyzed. Results There were 34 530 person-time local residents receiving serological screening for S. japonicum infections in national surveillance sites of Zhejiang Province from 2015 to 2019, and the seroprevalance of S. japonicum infections were 0.29% to 0.68%; however, no egg-positives were detected. During the period from 2015 to 2019, there were 62 086 person-time mobile populations receiving serological screening for S. japonicum infections in national surveillance sites of Zhejiang Province, and the seroprevalance of S. japonicum infections were 0.32% to 0.56%; additionally, there were 27 egg-positives identified, including 3 imported cases with schistosomiasis haematobia and one case with acute schistosomiasis japonica, indicating that the adjusted prevalence of Schistosoma infections were 0.01% to 0.07% among mobile populations. A total of 829 livestock were examined for S. japonicum infections, with no positives detected. There were 10.55 hm2 and 2.89 hm2 snail habitats found in national surveillance sites and risk monitoring sites of Zhejiang Province during the 5-year period, respectively; however, no S. japonicum infections were identified in snails. Moreover, a total of 305 wild feces were tested for S. japonicum infections, and no egg-positives were identified. Conclusions The schistosomiasis elimination achievement have been consolidated in Zhejiang Province; however, the risk factors of re-emerging schistosomiasis have not been completely eliminated, such as residual snails and imported schistosomiasis cases. Further surveillance and control activities of snails and the source of S. japonicum infections should be reinforced.

Expert consensus on the strategy and measures to interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis in China / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Since 2015 when the transmission of schistosomiasis was controlled in China, the country has been moving towards elimination of schistosomiasis, with the surveillance-response as the main interventions for schistosomiasis control. During the period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, the transmission of schistosomiasis had been interrupted in four provinces of Sichuan, Jiangsu, Yunnan and Hubei and the prevalence of schistosomiasis has been at the historically lowest level in China. As a consequence, the goal set in The 13th Five-Year National Schistosomiasis Control Program in China is almost achieved. However, there are multiple challenges during the stage moving towards elimination of schistosomiasis in China, including the widespread distribution of intermediate host snails and complicated snail habitats, many types of sources of Schistosoma japonicum infections and difficulty in management of bovines and sheep, unmet requirements for the current schistosomiasis control program with the currently available tools, and vulnerable control achievements. During the 14th Five-Year period, it is crucial to consolidate the schistosomiasis control achievements and gradually solve the above difficulties, and critical to provide the basis for achieving the ultimate goal of elimination of schistosomiasis in China. Based on the past experiences from the national schistosomiasis control program and the challenges for schistosomiasis elimination in China, an expert consensus has been reached pertaining to the objectives, control strategy and measures for The 14th Five-Year National Schistosomiasis Control Program in China, so as to provide insights in to the development of The 14th Five-Year National Schistosomiasis Control Program in China.

Surveillance and control strategy of imported schistosomiasis mansoni: an expert consensus / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

In 1980s, Biomphalaria straminea, an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni, was found in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China, and currently, this snail has colonized in Shenzhen City and spread to peripheral cities involving of Dongguan and Huizhou. Since imported cases infected with S. mamoni have been reported from time to time in China, Mainland China is facing the potential risk of transmission of schistosomiasis mansoni. With the deepening of the opening-up policy, notably the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, there is an increase in the risk of transmission of schistosomiasis mansoni in Mainland China. Increasing the understanding on schistosomiasis mansoni, improving the awareness toward schistosomiasis mansoni prevention and control, and identifying, reporting and managing imported cases with S. mansoni infection or pathogen carriers, are of particular importance to prevent the development of entire life cycle of S. mansoni and the resultant schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in China. To protect public health, a consensus has been reached pertaining to the surveillance and control strategy of imported schistosomiasis mansoni by Chinese infectious disease experts and parasitologists, with aims to improve the awareness and capability for the diagnosis, treatment and control of imported schistosomiasis mansoni among Chinese disease control and prevention institutions and medical institutions, and decrease and even eliminate the risk of schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in China.

Current status and new challenges of three important imported parasitic diseases / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Following the concerted efforts for nearly 70 years, great achievements have been obtained in parasitic diseases control in China, and some important parasitic diseases have been eliminated or moving towards elimination in the country. With the socioeconomic development, the implementation of the “Road and Belt Initiative” and the increase in the international communication and overseas investment, there is a rise in the number of overseas labors, businessmen, students, travelers, visitors and participants in national and international communication activities, resulting in a gradual increase in the number of cases with parasitic diseases imported from endemic to non-endemic areas of China and from foreign countries to China. The increase in the number of imported cases causes new challenges for the elimination of parasitic diseases in China. The paper describes the current status of malaria, schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis, analyzes the challenges for the current control activities, and proposes the control strategies and interventions.

Surveillance and control strategy of imported schistosomiasis mansoni: an expert consensus / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

In 1980s, Biomphalaria straminea, an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni, was found in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China, and currently, this snail has colonized in Shenzhen City and spread to peripheral cities involving of Dongguan and Huizhou. Since imported cases infected with S. mamoni have been reported from time to time in China, Mainland China is facing the potential risk of transmission of schistosomiasis mansoni. With the deepening of the opening-up policy, notably the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, there is an increase in the risk of transmission of schistosomiasis mansoni in Mainland China. Increasing the understanding on schistosomiasis mansoni, improving the awareness toward schistosomiasis mansoni prevention and control, and identifying, reporting and managing imported cases with S. mansoni infection or pathogen carriers, are of particular importance to prevent the development of entire life cycle of S. mansoni and the resultant schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in China. To protect public health, a consensus has been reached pertaining to the surveillance and control strategy of imported schistosomiasis mansoni by Chinese infectious disease experts and parasitologists, with aims to improve the awareness and capability for the diagnosis, treatment and control of imported schistosomiasis mansoni among Chinese disease control and prevention institutions and medical institutions, and decrease and even eliminate the risk of schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in China.

Current status and new challenges of three important imported parasitic diseases / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Following the concerted efforts for nearly 70 years, great achievements have been obtained in parasitic diseases control in China, and some important parasitic diseases have been eliminated or moving towards elimination in the country. With the socioeconomic development, the implementation of the “Road and Belt Initiative” and the increase in the international communication and overseas investment, there is a rise in the number of overseas labors, businessmen, students, travelers, visitors and participants in national and international communication activities, resulting in a gradual increase in the number of cases with parasitic diseases imported from endemic to non-endemic areas of China and from foreign countries to China. The increase in the number of imported cases causes new challenges for the elimination of parasitic diseases in China. The paper describes the current status of malaria, schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis, analyzes the challenges for the current control activities, and proposes the control strategies and interventions.

Current status and transmission risks of oversea imported schistosomiasis in China / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

With the acceleration of the process of global integration, China’s international exchanges and cooperation with other countries have been further increased. The personnel exchange has led to the frequent occurrence of imported schistosomiasis from abroad, which seriously endangers people’s health. This paper reviews the prevalence and transmission risks of oversea imported schistosomiasis, providing the reference for the entry and exit health quarantine and prevention and control of schistosomiasis in China.

Upholding Chinese spirit on schistosomiasis control in the new era to accelerate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in China / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

China is one of the schistosomiasis-endemic countries with the highest burden of disease across the world. Following the control efforts for over 60 years, great successes have been achieved in schistosomiasis control in the country, and the control program is moving towards transmission interruption and elimination. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of publishing Chairman Mao Zedong’s two poems entitled “Farewell to the God of Plague”, a series of activities that disseminate schistosomiasis control achievements have been conducted in China throughout 2018, including the development of Chinese spirit on schistosomiasis control in the new era. After extensive discussion, collection and screening, and “Integration of all efforts, scientific control, willingness to dedication and swearing to wipe out the 'God of Plague' “ was proposed as Chinese spirit on schistosomiasis control in the new era. Integration of all efforts is a summary of administrative policy-making and population participation in Chinese schistosomiasis control programs; scientific control is the refinement of the Chinese national schistosmiasis control strategy that is developed and implemented tailoring to time and circumstances; willingness to dedication is a valuable spiritual wealth and inexhaustible source of power for Chinese schistosomiasis control professionals in the new era; and swearing to wipe out the “God of Plague” is a sacred mission assigned to Chinese professionals participating in the national schistosomiasis control program in the new era. Chinese spirit on schistosomiasis control in the new era will further strengthen our belief in achieving the goal of schistosomiasis elimination in China eventually.