Baseline, impact and surveillance trachoma prevalence surveys in Burundi, 2018–2021

Summary

This study presents the results of trachoma baseline, impact and surveillance surveys conducted in Burundi between 2018 and 2021. Baseline surveys were conducted in 15 evaluation units (EUs), impact surveys in two EUs and surveillance surveys in five EUs.

The prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) in one to nine-year-old children was above the elimination threshold of 5% in a single EU at baseline, but fell below the threshold in subsequent impact and surveillance surveys. The prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) was below the 0.2% elimination threshold in ≥15-year-olds in all EUs surveyed.

The authors conclude that Burundi has demonstrated the prevalence levels necessary for trachoma elimination status.