To the Editor: The People's Re-public of China accounts for >500,000 cases of echinococcosis and more dis-ability-associated life years (DALYs) lost because of this disease than any other world region (1,2). Hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus (cystic echinococcosis [CE]), or the more pathogenic lesions with mul-tiple vesicles caused by E. multilocu-laris infection (alveolar echinococ-cosis [AE]), usually grow slowly in the liver, so that severe illness and death may eventually occur in a high proportion of those with untreated infections (3,4). Apart from surgery, long-term anthelminthic therapy (>6 months) with the benzimidazole com-pound albendazole, although parasito-static only, has a benefi cial outcome in >50% of cases (5). To control the transmission of this zoonosis, veteri-nary public health measures must be emphasized (6).
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