Background and Purposes

Schistosomiasis mekongi is a vector-borne and zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma mekongi, a disease that can cause such severe health problems as anemia, obtuseness, and retarded growth, andmay even lead to liver cirrhosis and ascites with bleak prognosis and high mortality, if not treated in time.

Schistosomiasis mekongi, which used to plague China for a long time, has been fully contained there. But the disease has shifted its crosshairs at Laos and Cambodia. In this case, through this project we will try to help the two countries to curb the transmission of schistosomiasis mekongi based on Chinese experience, and thus help build a health community for countries and their people along the “Belt and Road” .

General Outline

The 8-week project will last from December 2020 through January 2021.

Week 1-2: Making preparations, including literature review and analysis, summarizing the Chinese people’s practices fighting against the disease, selecting sample sites, and setting project goals.

Week 3-5: Conducting field study and online research, including schistosomiasis mekongi prevalence and diagnosis, infrastructure and facilities in use for monitoring humans/animals/snails, and the awareness of schistosomiasis mekongi and its control among key staff and young technicians in Cambodian and Lao health authorities and that among local residents; paying visits to Cambodian and Lao villages and working with local governments to hold workshops with local schools, government officials, and residents, a task to be performed by partners based on the plan; and organizing an online workshop to formulate work plans and share Chinese ideas in curbing transmission of schistosomiasis mekongi.

Week 6-7: Working jointly to how effective the ways is of stopping transmission of schistosomiasis mekongi in Cambodia and Laos. Applying Chinese experience based on relevant information and findings in field research; , analyzing each part of schistosomiasis mekongi transmission; presenting the mechanism of Cambodian and Lao schistosomiasis mekongi transmission and models of intervention; based on the research results, selecting the best model that factors in local needs and conditions; and developing a demonstrative project for stopping schistosomiasis mekongi transmission in Cambodia and Laos and assessing potential effectiveness.

Week 8: Summarizing the project, strengthening out the findings, and proposing plans for containing schistosomiasis mekongi transmission based on practices in China’s One Health initiative.

Management Guidelines

At least 1-2 experts from each side (China, Laos, Cambodia, and Switzerlandas) act in team as supervisors. As planned, altogether 20 graduate students will be needed as the team members, who will accomplish phased goals and tasks under the guidance of the project leader. Experts and students will form several teams for each phased task.