Transmission Heterogeneities of Onchocerciasis and Its Elimination in Uganda
Location: Uganda
Alumni: Maria Hinson
Faculty: Edwin Michael
Onchocerciasis affects more than 18 million people in 31 countries, 99% of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. Although elimination programs have been successful in South America, there is still work to do regarding elimination efforts in sub-Saharan hyperendemic communities. Despite reports of disease elimination in Mali, Senegal, and Nigeria, areas such as onchocerciasis endemic Uganda continue to be affected by the filarial Onchocerca volvulus parasite. The objective of this research is to understand the transmission heterogeneities of onchocerciasis and to verify a deterministic multi-species model with Ugandan data. Using entomologic and microfilariae prevalence data, the project aims to verify the multi-species model and evaluate the efficacy of the Carter Center River Blindness Elimination Program. As foci in Uganda have yet to reach elimination with ongoing control efforts, quantifying the efficacy of interventions and number of years required to reach elimination will allow control program officials to make more informed decisions regarding onchocerciasis eradication and cessation of their programs.