You are invited to join a Webinar hosted by the Global Onchocerciasis Network for Elimination (GONE) on “Loiasis: a very neglected disease in Central Africa”.
Objective of the meeting
Loiasis, or African eye worm, caused by the filarial parasite Loa loa and transmitted by Chrysops deerflies, remains a major barrier to onchocerciasis control in Central Africa. The disease affects over 20 million people across Central and West Africa, mainly in remote, economically disadvantaged rural areas. Once overlooked, loiasis is now recognized as a significant cause of morbidity, with chronic symptoms such as severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, and itching that seriously affect quality of life. Studies show it is among the most common reasons for healthcare visits in endemic regions, with disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) comparable to other neglected tropical diseases. Beyond health impacts, loiasis also imposes an economic burden, as frequent acute symptoms lead to work absenteeism and loss of income.
As a neglected tropical disease, loiasis disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and warrants greater global attention. This webinar convenes experts and stakeholders to better understand the Loa loa challenge, highlight the need for a coordinated strategy, and explore practical, safe, and targeted solutions—including improved mapping, diagnostics, and treatment—to protect affected communities and support broader disease elimination goals.
Register here for the webinar (https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hDJjSJWQR9uyAbVj5f5Ozw)--------------------------------------
Agenda
| Welcome remarks and objective of the meeting Dr Maria Rebollo, WHO |
| Introduction of epidemiology of loiasis in endemic regions Prof Marielle Bouyou Akotet, Professor of Parasitology, Head of Department at University of of Health Sciences of Libreville, Gabon |
| Loiasis in the returning traveller Prof Federico Gobbi, Director of the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Microbiology at Ospedale Sacro Cuore Do Calabria, Negrar, Italy |
| Clinical presentation and long-term complications of loiasis in endemic regions Dr Michel Boussinesq, Research Director at the French Research Institute for Development, France |
| Challenges and recent advances in the treatment of loiasis Prof Michael Ramharter, Head of the Division of Tropical Medicine at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf and Head of the Department of Clinical Research, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany |
| Implications of Loiasis for Onchocerciasis Elimination: Insights from the Test-and-Treat Approach Prof Joseph Kamgno, CEO of the Higher Institute for Scientific and Medical Research (ISM) Chair of the Department of Public Health; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - University of Yaounde, Cameroon |
| Question and Answer session |
| Closing remarks Dr Maria Rebollo, WHO |
Languages: English and French