[Towards the elimination of the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in Honduras and Central American countries]

Abstract

Central America is composed of seven countries: Belice, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Chagas disease exists in all seven countries, but with major prevalence in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The main species of triatomine vectors are: Rhodnius prolixus, Triatoma dimidiata y Rhodnius pallescens. In 1997 the Central American countries launched an Initiative for the Vectorial and Transfusion Transmission Control of Chagas disease. The objectives of the Initiative are: 1. elimination of Rhodnius prolixus, 2. control of Triatoma dimidiata and 3. serological screening for Trypanosoma cruzi of 100% of the blood donors. This Initiative is supported by the Resolution for "The Elimination of Transmission of Chagas Disease", of the World Health Assembly in 1998.