The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs will conduct a national survey this month to assess the presence of schistosomiasis, a waterborne parasitic disease, among public primary school students.
Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is transmitted through contact with fresh water containing infected snails. The survey among children aged 8 to 11 is a significant step in Saint Lucia’s efforts to officially confirm the elimination of this neglected tropical disease.
“Saint Lucia has recorded only 36 cases of schistosomiasis in the past decade, reflecting very low prevalence. Success in this survey could position the country as a regional leader in schistosomiasis elimination. The findings will also guide future strategies to sustain this achievement and protect public health,” said Medical Surveillance Officer at the Ministry of Health, Dr Dana DaCosta Gomez.
She added that any positive cases detected during the survey would receive free treatment and follow-up care from the ministry.
Dr Dacosta Gomez said that while no infected snails were found in the last school survey in 2017, Saint Lucia must meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria to verify elimination status.
The WHO requires countries to demonstrate the interruption of schistosomiasis transmission over a five-year period before declaring elimination. That includes showing no locally acquired human cases of infection, no infections found in animals that could transmit the disease to humans, and no evidence of infected intermediate host snails.
The school-based survey will randomly select public primary school students for participation, which will be strictly voluntary. Parents will be provided with detailed information and must give written consent before their children take part. Health officials will collect finger-prick blood samples using safe, sterile techniques, ensuring confidentiality for all participants.
“The outcome of this survey not only strengthens our disease surveillance framework but also positions Saint Lucia as a regional public health leader in eliminating schistosomiasis,” Dr DaCosta Gomez added. “It also provides reassurance that our freshwater environments are safe and that our public health systems are functioning proactively.”
She said public cooperation is key to ensuring a healthier future for Saint Lucia.
