Echinococcosis in Pakistan: One Belt & One Road Initiative

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is zoonotic neglected tropical parasitic disease. It is endemic in the some Asian countries like China, Turkey, Iran and India. In Pakistan it is neglected and limited studies have been conducted on epidemiology of CE due to the lack of the fundings. It is not explored yet in Pakistan to estimate incidence and disease burden. In Pakistan recent emergence of CE and its transmission reservoirs are threating to have a higher incidence rate in near future. We are very grateful to Hanian Medical University, China for providing an excellent opportunity under “The Belt and Road Tropical Medical Alliance” which is inspired by the strategy of the “One Belt & One Road Initiative”. This forum will provide direction towards World Health Organization’s call for strengthening tropical disease prevention and research. Taking this opportunity, data on endemicity of CE from Pakistan will be shared in front of scientific community at First International Conference of Tropical Medicine at Hanian Medical University, China. In this way the international cooperation, establishment of research laboratories, collaborative research projects, technology transfer and scientists training will be done under the umbrella of this platform for the screening, control and management of CE in Pakistan. In this international forum of institutions of higher learning, medical institutions, scientific institutions and public health institutions of member countries of “The Belt and Road Tropical Medical Alliance” will not only promote and help the control and management of echinococcosis but also open new directions towards other neglected tropical diseases in Pakistan.

Keywords

• Echinococcosis; Pakistan; Alliance; One Belt & One Road