In a recent article we discussed the feasibility of onchocerciasis elimination in Africa by 2025. We expressed concern that elimination may be impeded by failure to build on the lessons learned in the African onchocerciasis control programmes and the introduction of strategies and tools from the Americas. Richards et al. and Cupp et al. wrote to refute our concern and described recent achievements with stopping treatment in some areas. In this response, we discuss their arguments which did not convince us. We point out several scientific flaws in the American conceptual framework of elimination which has led to longer periods of treatment than necessary, and in the use of an arbitrary threshold for stopping treatment. We show that recent achievements fall significantly short of what would be needed to achieve onchocerciasis elimination by 2025. We conclude our response by advocating for a more objective and inclusive debate on strategies and tools for onchocerciasis elimination.

中文翻译：

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需要基于证据的战略和工具来消除非洲的盘尾丝虫病

在最近的一篇文章中，我们讨论了到2025年在非洲消除盘尾丝虫病的可行性。我们对消除盘尾丝虫病可能会因未能借鉴非洲盘尾丝虫病控制计划的经验教训以及引入美洲的策略和工具而受到阻碍。理查兹（Richards）等人。和Cupp等。写信来驳斥我们的关注，并描述了在某些领域停止治疗的最新成就。在此回应中，我们讨论了他们的论点，这些论点并没有说服我们。我们指出了美国消灭概念框架中的一些科学缺陷，这些缺陷导致治疗时间超过了必要的时间，并且使用了任意阈值来停止治疗。我们显示，最近的成就远低于到2025年实现消除盘尾丝虫病所需的时间。