Cross-border Cooperation and Joint Action as Chinese and Lao Experts Work Together to Advance Schistosomiasis Elimination

To implement the outcomes of the Fourth Leaders’ Meeting of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Five-Year Action Plan for 2023 to 2027, the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention sent a four-member expert team to Laos from 19 to 28 September 2025. The mission was carried out under the framework of the China–Laos–Cambodia cooperation project to accelerate schistosomiasis elimination and the Lancang-Mekong Joint Laboratory project, both supported by the Asian Cooperation Fund. The team was led by Xu Jing, Researcher and Head of the Schistosomiasis Division.

With the careful organization and arrangements of the Center for Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology of Laos, the experts travelled to Don Khong in Khong District of Champasak Province, an area where schistosomiasis is endemic. They took part in collecting stool and blood samples from local villagers, conducted parasitological examinations, carried out health education activities and participated in the provision of preventive treatment, gaining a close view of how schistosomiasis control is organized in Laos. After completing the field work, the team returned to CMPE to perform DNA extraction from stool samples and molecular testing, and carried out on-site evaluation of the qPCR and LAMP assays previously developed by the team for the detection of Schistosoma mekongi. The experts also met with officials, senior managers and technical staff from the WHO Western Pacific Region, the WHO Country Office in Lao PDR and CMPE to exchange views on the implementation progress of the China-funded South-South cooperation project on schistosomiasis elimination in Laos and to discuss plans for the next phase of cooperation.

This visit gave the expert team a clearer picture of the schistosomiasis situation in Laos and the realities of field control. It deepened their understanding of the country’s control system, diagnostic capacity, international cooperation and needs for achieving elimination. The mission helped broaden the international outlook and strengthen the technical capacity of China’s schistosomiasis control professionals. It also laid a solid basis for the continued implementation of South-South cooperation projects and Asian Cooperation Fund projects and for joint efforts to advance schistosomiasis elimination across the Lancang-Mekong region.