Taenia solium cysticercosis, and its public health and economic consequences, appears
to be a growing problem in poor areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America where people
eat pork and traditional pig husbandry is practiced (and expanding). Its burden is
counted in terms of human disease (mainly neurocysticercosis related epilepsy) and
economic losses, in a context of both commercial and traditional subsistence pig farming.
Although substantial fragmentary information seems to be available from local settings,
national and global burdens due to T. solium cysticercosis are still to be comprehensively
assessed. With regard to control, several strategies have been checked out at a small
or medium scale and have proven to be successful. Yet, no intervention programmes
have been implemented so far at the national level with proven success. Although T.
solium cysticercosis is considered to be a potentially eradicable disease, there is
no evidence yet that it is feasible and recommendable to envisage this within a reasonable
time frame. However, it appears realistic to aim for the rapid definition of a simple
package of interventions, which can routinely be carried out by existing services
and structures, and will give an optimal, long-term return in terms of burden relief.
Also, a number of international initiatives and opportunities currently exist in which
a more pro-active attitude towards the control of T. solium cysticercosis can be integrated
and promoted. Commitment of both national and local authorities to control the disease
needs to be convincingly solicited and, as for most zoonotic diseases, an interdisciplinary
approach is essential.