02984nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653002400058653001700082653001900099653003100118653003400149653001900183653003400202100001600236700001200252700001300264700001200277700001100289700001400300700001200314700001500326700001500341700001500356700001400371245018800385490000800573520206300581022001402644       2023                            d  bElsevier BV10aInfectious Diseases10aParasitology10aInsect Science10aVeterinary (miscellaneous)10aMDA, Mass Drug Administration10aonchocerciasis10aCOVID-19-related interruption1 aShintouo CM1 aShey RA1 aYengo BN1 aYaah NE1 aTeh RN1 aNgwese RA1 aAyong L1 aVanhamme L1 aSouopgui J1 aGhogomu SM1 aNjemini R00aEffects of the suspension of mass drug administration during the COVID-19 pandemic on onchocerciasis prevalence in the Bandjoun and Massangam health districts, West Region of Cameroon0 v2463 a<p>Onchocerciasis is an infectious disease of public health and socio-economic importance in most parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the suspension of implementation activities towards combating&nbsp;onchocerciasis&nbsp;in the Bandjoun and Massangam health districts in the West Region of Cameroon as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained using a structured questionnaire. All participants in both health districts were examined for the presence of clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis. In addition, two skin snips were obtained from the knee of each participant and examined for the presence of&nbsp;microfilaria. All data were categorized, coded, entered in a database, and analysed using SPSS version 23.0. A total of 229 participants in the Bandjoun health district and 378 in the Massangam health district were recruited for the study. In both health districts, there was no significant difference between male and female participants in terms of the clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis. The prevalence of nodules was 8.7% in the Bandjoun health district and 20.6% in the Massangam health district while the prevalence of microfilaria carriers in Bandjoun and Massangam health districts was 3.5% and 3.7%, respectively. Except for the Tsesse and Lemgo communities in the Bandjoun health district, there was a reduction in the prevalence of microfilaria in the communities that were studied when compared to previous data obtained before the disruption of control programmes activities. Overall, in both health districts, elderly individuals bear the largest burden of onchocerciasis. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that the temporary suspension of Neglected Tropical Disease control programme activities by the World Head Organization as a result of COVID-19 may have resulted to recrudescence of&nbsp;<em>O. volvulus</em>&nbsp;transmission in hypoendemic communities in the Bandjoun health district.</p>
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