The Blackfly Dilemma

Abstract

The good intentions of specialists involved in the onchocerciasis control project in the Volta Basin of West Africa have not been questioned. It is, however, questioned whether there was not too great a haste to implement the spraying phase of the programme. There is apprehension that the food-chain with Man as terminal link will be contaminated, and that the project will increase the socio-economic as well as political problems of participating countries and yet fail to control the disease.In view of these considerations and of continuing ‘blind spots’ in human knowledge and especially of the problems involved, it is considered urgent that the spraying as it is now going on be modified or suspended until such time as the gaps in knowledge are reasonably closed.