Burden of schistosomiasis in Ethiopia following ten years of preventive chemotherapy: A national cross-sectional geostatistical survey

Schistosomiasis has declined substantially in Ethiopia after a decade of control, but transmission continues in some areas. In this study, researchers surveyed 119,559 children across the country and produced detailed maps showing where infection persists. They found that 5.4% of children had schistosomiasis. Compared with earlier estimates, the number of people requiring annual preventive treatment has fallen from 26.7 million to 10.8 million. Heavy-intensity infection is also below the WHO elimination target nationally. The maps can help programmes direct treatment and resources to communities that still need them.