New modelling study suggests potential for moxidectin to accelerate elimination of river blindness in Africa

New modelling study suggests potential for moxidectin to accelerate elimination of river blindness in Africa

A new modelling study by the EPIONCHO-IBM team at Imperial College London projects that moxidectin dosed 6-monthly in communities with moderate endemicity for river blindness, could reduce by half the time to elimination of transmission of the disease when compared with ivermectin. Furthermore, 6-monthly dosing of moxidectin may be the only strategy to achieve elimination of transmission in areas of high endemicity.

The World Health Organization 2021-2030 roadmap for neglected tropical diseases targets elimination of transmission of the causative parasite, Onchocerca volvulus in 12 countries by 2030, but epidemiological data and modelling studies suggest that community directed treatment with ivermectin is unlikely to achieve these elimination targets.

This modelling study looked at a range of endemicity level settings and annual vs biannual treatment frequencies, accounting for different rates of community therapeutic coverage and adherence to treatment.

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