EDITORIAL THE BURDEN OF ECHINOCOCCOSIS

by the larval stages of Echinococcus granulosus and Echino-coccus multilocularis, respectively, are well-known by the medical community because of their often dramatic clinical presentation and complexities of diagnosis and clinical man-agement. Surgical removal, percutaneous drainage, and ex-tended chemotherapy are current methods of treatment of these infections that remain prevalent throughout vast areas of the world.1 Where adequate care is available, the cost of treatment of individual cases can cost thousands of dollars. The impact of these diseases on patients/persons diagnosed with the disease is appreciated by the medical community, but the broader impact of these infections on individuals and the affected communities has been largely unknown or ignored. These infections negatively impact the health and productivity of both humans and lower animals. Assessing the economic im