02847nas a2200421   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653003800054653002000092653002300112100001600135700001600151700001600167700001300183700001500196700001500211700001400226700002000240700001300260700001400273700001600287700001600303700001500319700001400334700001500348700001200363700001700375700001500392700001400407700001300421700001400434245012200448856009900570300001300669490000700682520172200689022001402411       2020                            d  c08/202010aSoil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs)10aDisease control10aTreatment coverage1 aMontresor A1 aMupfasoni D1 aMikhailov A1 aMwinzi P1 aLucianez A1 aJamsheed M1 aGasimov E1 aWarusavithana S1 aYajima A1 aBisoffi Z1 aBuonfrate D1 aSteinmann P1 aUtzinger J1 aLevecke B1 aVlaminck J1 aCools P1 aVercruysse J1 aCringoli G1 aRinaldi L1 aBlouin B1 aGyorkos T00aThe global progress of soil-transmitted helminthiases control in 2020 and World Health Organization targets for 2030.  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0008505&type=printable  ae00085050 v143 a<p>Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are the most widespread of the neglected tropical diseases, primarily affecting marginalized populations in low- and middle-income countries. More than one billion people are currently infected with STHs. For the control of these infections, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an integrated approach, which includes access to appropriate sanitation, hygiene education, and preventive chemotherapy (i.e., large-scale, periodic distribution of anthelmintic drugs). Since 2010, WHO has coordinated two large donations of benzimidazoles to endemic countries. Thus far, more than 3.3 billion benzimidazole tablets have been distributed in schools for the control of STH infections, resulting in an important reduction in STH-attributable morbidity in children, while additional tablets have been distributed for the control of lymphatic filariasis. This paper (i) summarizes the progress of global STH control between 2008 to 2018 (based on over 690 reports submitted by endemic countries to WHO); (ii) provides regional and country details on preventive chemotherapy coverage; and (iii) indicates the targets identified by WHO for the next decade and the tools that should be developed to attain these targets. The main message is that STH-attributable morbidity can be averted with evidence-informed program planning, implementation, and monitoring. Caution will still need to be exercised in stopping control programs to avoid any rebound of prevalence and loss of accrued morbidity gains. Over the next decade, with increased country leadership and multi-sector engagement, the goal of eliminating STH infections as a public health problem can be achieved.</p>  a1935-2735