Rastreos del grupo de lucha contra la equinococosis-hidatidosis en los municipios de Elvas y Alandroal

The activity of the Group for the Control of Echinococcosis-Hydatidosis takes place in Elvas and Alandroal counties, north-east Alentejo, Portugal, an area where the prevalence of parasitism by Echinococcus granulosus is very high. This factor led to the first survey in 1991 and later, in 1998, to the establishment of a multidisciplinary group dedicated to the control of hydatidosis. The group carries out different activities: Surveys in humans (epidemiological questionnaire, blood collection and abdominal ultrasound survey); health education (talks for rural citizens, distribution of information in paper format, individual interviews with the target populations, collection of epidemiological data); close interaction/ collaboration with the Hospital de Santa Luzia de Elvas (serological analysis of collected sera; clinical evaluation of patients and surgery). Eighteen rural population areas were surveyed, representing 7.8% of the population. The activity of this multidisciplinary group aims at developing activity in the definitive host and livestock, having as a main goal the eradication of the parasite.