Timeline of deworming


This is a timeline of deworming, and specifically mass deworming.

Big picture

Time periodKey developments
Late 17th centuryBirth of modern helminthology as European physicians first detail anatomy of parasitic worms.
1851–1915Understanding of and interest in schistosomiasis deepens as more people come in contact with the disease.
1948–presentFollowing World War II, the World Health Organization "has been the principal body concerned with the international support of research and control programmes" of schistosomiasis. However, despite this and the implementation of programs, prevalence of schistosomiasis increases in many areas.
1949–1997Both Japan and South Korea successfully implement national programs to essentially eliminate soil-transmitted helminthiasis.
2001–presentThe World Health Assembly declares deworming as a focus. Various deworming organizations form.

Full timeline

YearEvent typeEventDisease nameGeographic location
16th century BCSchistosome parasites thought to first evolve in the Great Lakes of East Africa around this period.SchistosomiasisAfrica
16th century BCGuinea Worm is described in several ancient Egyptian texts, and is thought to be common in the areaDracunculiasisEgypt
1st Century – 7th CenturyDiscoveryRoman and Byzantine physicians are familiar with human roundworms and tapeworms and the infections that they cause.Roundworm, tapewormRoman Empire
1683–1684DiscoveryBirth of modern helminthology. Detailed anatomy of the roundworm is described, first by English physician Edward Tyson, and shortly afterward by the Italian Francesco Redi.RoundwormEngland, Italy
1799–1801CrisisNapoleon's soldiers almost certainly suffer from haematuria caused by schistosomiasis infection.Schistosomiasis
1851DiscoveryTheodor Bilharz discovers the parasite responsible for schistosomiasis.Schistosomiasis
1882PublicationFirst mention of schistosomiasis in The Lancet.Schistosomiasis
1883Interest in schistosomiasis heightens in England due to more frequent encounter with the disease following English occupation of Egypt.SchistosomiasisEngland, Egypt
1893–1918Program launchFour commissions designed to understand schistosomiasis are sent to North Africa.SchistosomiasisAfrica
1898DiscoveryScientist Arthur Looss discovers that hookworms enter the body by boring through the skin when he accidentally infects himself.Hookworm
1909OrganizationThe Rockefeller Sanitary Commission for the Eradication of Hookworm Disease is founded. One of RSC's main goals is to eradicate hookworm disease in Southern United States. The RSC is active from 1910 to 1914, and closes in 1915. It is replaced by the International Health Division, another Rockefeller Foundation initiative, which tackled public health concerns on a global level.HookwormUnited States
1914–1934Overdose of oil of chenopodium, administered as part of the Rockefeller hookworm eradication program, causes over 200 documented deaths. More than 80% of deaths occur in children under 12.Hookworm
1915DiscoveryRobert Thomson Leiper works out the life-cycle of schistosomiasis.Schistosomiasis
1926–1931Successful eradicationGuinea Worm is eradicated in Uzbekistan through a series of health education and sanitation measures.DracunculiasisUzbekistan
1927–1951Attempts are made to kill the intermediate hosts for schistosomiasis using copper sulfate instead of sanitation and health education. The reasoning here is to prevent the schistosomiasis life-cycle from being completed. However it is unclear if these measures reduced the prevalence of schistosomiasis.Schistosomiasis
1938Schistosomiasis Commission proposed by Hilmy Bey; the League of Nations Health Committee suggests more research on the disease, but nothing is done due to the imminence of World War II.Schistosomiasis
1939–1945CrisisAllied soldiers affected by schistosomiasis in China, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands. This brings the disease to international attention.Schistosomiasis
1942Program launchSchistosomiasis control program begins in Venezuela.SchistosomiasisVenezuela
1947PublicationFirst assessment of the distribution of schistosomiasis in the world by Norman Stoll.Schistosomiasis
1948Program launchThe first World Health Assembly decides to establish an "Expert Committee" to deal with schistosomiasis.Schistosomiasis
1949Program launchVolunteer organizations for deworming form in Tokyo and Osaka, which implement "biannual school-based mass screening and treatment".Soil-transmitted helminthiasisJapan
1955Program launchJapan Association of Parasite Control forms. JAPC is a consolidation of several previous deworming groups that existed.Soil-transmitted helminthiasisJapan
1965–1995Program launchKorea Association for Parasite Eradication models their deworming program off Japanese programs.Soil-transmitted helminthiasis, hookworm, etc.South Korea
1971Successful eradicationIran eliminates dracunculiasis.DracunculiasisIran
mid-1980sUnder Japan Association of Parasite Control, deworming efforts lead to "very minimal levels" of Ascaris.Soil-transmitted helminthiasisJapan
1986–presentOrganizationThe Carter Foundation begins a campaign to eradicate Guinea worm. The incidence of guinea worm infection declines sharply, from an estimated 3.5 million cases in 1986 to 22 reported cases in 2015.Dracunculiasis
1997The World Health Organization declares South Korea "essentially worm-free".Soil-transmitted helminthiasisSouth Korea
2001The World Health Assembly declares the goal of 75% of schoolchildren in endemic areas receiving deworming treatment.Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted helminthiasis
2002OrganizationThe Schistosomiasis Control Initiative established after being funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since 2013 SCI has been a GiveWell top charity.Schistosomiasis
2007OrganizationDeworm the World Initiative is founded. Since 2014 Deworm the World Initiative has been a GiveWell top charity.Soil-transmitted helminthiasis
2012Program launchVarious organizations announce a coordinated effort to eliminate or control 10 neglected tropical diseases, including both schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis.Schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis
2015The "deworming debate" takes place starting in July on whether deworming is effective.