The Black Fly and Oncocercosis Laboratory of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (LSO/IOC) is developing the technological processes for the diagnosis for the PBEO (Brazilian Program for the Elimination of Oncocercosis). Its goal is to portray the situation of the disease in the country’s endemic areas and subsidize the epidemiological analysis by national and international public health authorities, with the purpose of helping out indigenous health, in particular, as they are the most common victims.

The initiative also intends to give more support to the epidemiological surveillance of oncocercosis in Brazil, produce national data for the PBEO, and train the professionals working in the program. Its main goal is to eradicate the disease in the country.