WHO: Considerations for Treatment, Case-Finding, and Surveys in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released new interim guidance on Considerations for mass treatment, case-finding, and population-based surveys for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the context of COVID-19.

WHO summarized the document purpose as:

This document provides a decision-making framework for implementation of mass treatment interventions, active case-finding campaigns and population-based surveys for NTDs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A two-step approach is proposed: a risk–benefit assessment, to decide if the planned activity should proceed; and an examination of a list of precautionary measures that should be applied with the aim of decreasing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 associated with the activity, and strengthening the capacity of the health system to manage any residual risk.