Tacloban: The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here is ramping up its fight against schistosomiasis in the Eastern Visayas region with about 3 million tablets available this year for mass administration for residents in the region’s endemic areas. Hygeia Grace Agosto, DOH regional schistosomiasis program manager, said in a phone interview Thursday that vulnerable populations are assured of sufficient stocks of praziquantel tablets to combat the disease, also known as snail fever.
According to Philippines News Agency, on top of the new deliveries from the central office, provinces have stocks of praziquantel tablets delivered mid or late last year. With an adequate supply, the DOH encourages everyone living in endemic areas to take this medicine. Agosto emphasized that this life-saving and effective treatment is free, and unlike in past years, there are no more concerns about praziquantel tablet supply in the region.
The mass drug administration in Eastern Visayas has covered 356,679 individuals, or just 47 percent of the target, for 2024. The goal is to cover at least 85 percent of the exposed population every year in mass drug treatment. In the region, nearly 1 million people remain exposed to the chronic parasitic disease. Agosto highlighted that the mass drug administration is a major activity to reduce schistosomiasis cases in communities and urged people to understand the importance of taking praziquantel, addressing fears of adverse effects.
Common adverse reactions after taking the anti-schistosomiasis drug include dizziness, vomiting, body weakness, nausea, anorexia, and joint and muscular pains. The disease is endemic in 897 villages across 63 towns and cities in Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar provinces. The DOH stressed the importance of treatment as the country observes schistosomiasis awareness and mass drug administration month in January.
The health department defines schistosomiasis as an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms called trematodes or blood flukes. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stool, and liver enlargement. Transmission occurs when individuals with schistosomiasis contaminate freshwater sources with feces containing parasite eggs, which hatch in the water. The first epidemic of schistosomiasis in the region occurred among Americans and Allied forces after landing in Leyte during World War II in 1944.
