Locally acquired strongyloidiasis in remote Australia: why are there still cases?

• Published in: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
• Main Author: Ross, Kirstin
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 2023
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0435; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rstb.2022.0435; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rstb.2022.0435

In Australia, strongyloidiasis primarily affects returned travellers, Vietnam veterans and refugees or asylum seekers, and First Nations people. Non-overseas acquired cases are seen almost exclusively in Australian First Nations remote communities. Australian First Nations communities have one of the highest rates of strongyloidiasis in the world. Our work has shown that strongyloidiasis is a disease of poverty. Acknowledging this is important—we need to shift the lens to socioeconomic factors, particularly environmental health hardware such as working toilets and sewerage systems, showers and laundries, and effective wastewater and rubbish removal. The rates of strongyloidiasis in First Nations communities is a result of decades of inadequate, poorly constructed and/or poorly maintained housing, and poor environmental health hardware (hereafter hardware). The solution lies in adequate funding, resulting in well designed and maintained housing and appropriate hardware. Governments need to allow First Nations communities themselves to take the lead role in funding allocation, and design, construction and maintenance of their housing and hardware. This will ensure housing and hardware fulfils cultural and physical needs and desires, and protects health. Improving housing and hardware will also improve other health outcomes. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘ Strongyloides : omics to worm-free populations’.