International Task Force for Disease Eradication – Program Reports

Feb. 16, 2024
36th Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication, 5–6 October 2023
Published by WHO’s Weekly Epidemiology Record, 2024, 99, 69–82.
The 36th meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened in a hybrid (virtual and in-person) format at the Carter Center in Atlanta (GA), USA, on 5–6 October 2023 to discuss the “global impact of climate change and health” and “the impact of climate change on disease eradication and elimination.”

May 2-3, 2023
Summary of the Thirty-Fifth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE)
The 35th meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened in a hybrid, virtual and in-person format on May 2-3, 2023, at The Carter Center in Atlanta, GA, USA, to discuss “The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Eradication/Elimination Programs.” The topic was in follow-up to the October 2020 ITFDE meeting focused on the potential effects the COVID-19 pandemic may have on the pillars of effective public health programs and the challenges presented by impeding the delivery of necessary, effective public health programs to many underserved populations.

Sept. 19-20, 2022
Summary of the Thirty-fourth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE)
The 34th meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened virtually and in person at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on September 19-20, 2022, to discuss the “World Health Organization's (WHO) New Guidelines on Control and Elimination of Human Schistosomiasis.” The ITFDE previously discussed schistosomiasis in 2001 and 2012, concluding that the disease was not yet eradicable with the available tools, but acknowledged that control of schistosomiasis was possible and could be improved.

March 14-15, 2022
Summary of the Thirty-third Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE)
The 33rd meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication was convened virtually and in-person at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on March 14-15, 2022. Day 1 focused on “Setting the Stage – Status of the Tuberculosis Pandemic and Impact of COVID-19”, “Recap of What has Transpired Following the United Nations High-Level 2018 Meeting”, and “Way Forward for United Nations High-Level 2023 Meeting.” Day 2 focused on “Who is Doing What to Implement Available Tools and Develop New Tools”.

May 4-5, 2021
Summary of the Thirty-second Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE)
The 32nd Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened virtually on May 4-5, 2021, at The Carter Center in Atlanta, GA, USA to discuss “Hispaniola Update – Progress Toward Eliminating Malaria and Lymphatic Filariasis in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, 2008-2020.”

Oct. 20-21, 2020
Summary of the Thirty-first Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE)
The 31st Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center in Atlanta, GA, USA on October 20-21, 2020 at 8:30am until 2:15pm each day to discuss “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eradication/Elimination Programs and the Way Forward.”

Oct. 22, 2019
Summary of the Thirtieth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (PDF)
The 30th Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center in Atlanta, GA, USA from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on October 22, 2019 to discuss the potential for eradication of measles and rubella.

Jan. 15, 2019
Summary of the Twenty-ninth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) (PDF)
The 29th meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, USA on Jan. 15, 2019, to discuss “Strengths and Limitations of Officially Validating Disease Elimination as a Public Health Problem.”

April 23, 2018
Summary of the Twenty-eighth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) (PDF)
The 28th meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, USA on April 23, 2018 to review the status of the global efforts to eliminate Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) and the need for improved diagnostic testing and treatment, the reduction of social stigma, and the exploration of the potential reservoir in armadillos.

Oct. 17, 2017
Summary of the Twenty-seventh Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) (PDF)
The 27th meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, USA on October 17, 2017 to review the status of the global campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease (dracunculiasis) and of research to understand and stop transmission of the parasite among dogs, particularly in Chad.

June 20, 2017
Summary of the Twenty-sixth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) (PDF)
The 26th Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30am to 5:00pm on June 20, 2017 to discuss new World Health Organization (WHO) goals for the elimination of hepatitis B infection (HBV) and hepatitis C infection (HCV) as public health threats.

Nov. 8, 2016
Summary of the Twenty-fifth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) (PDF)
The 25th Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on November 8, 2016 to discuss “Lymphatic Filariasis and Trachoma: Successes and Challenges in Stopping Mass Drug Administration.”

Nov. 10, 2015
Summary of the Twenty-fourth Meeting of theInternational Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) (PDF)
The 24th Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on Nov. 10, 2015, to discuss the potential eradicability of measles and rubella.

April 28, 2015
Summary of the Twenty-third Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II) (PDF)
The twenty-third meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 28, 2015, to discuss the glabal campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease.

Jan. 14, 2014
Summary of the Twenty-second Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II) (PDF)
The twenty-second meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. January 14, 2014, to discuss the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Africa.

July 10, 2013
Summary of the Twenty-first Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II) (PDF)
The twenty-first meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on July 10, 2013, to discuss the current status of progress towards elimination of cysticercosis/taeniasis and towards control of meningococcal meningitis.

Nov. 27, 2012
Summary of the Twentieth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II) (PDF)
The twentieth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 27, 2012, to discuss the potential eradicability of yaws, and to receive an update on progress toward elimination of malaria and lymphatic filariasis from Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti).

April 12, 2012
Summary of the Nineteenth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II) (PDF)
The nineteenth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on April 12, 2012, to discuss the potential eradicability of schistosomiasis.

April 6, 2011
Summary of the Eighteenth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II) (PDF)
The eighteenth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on April 5, 2011, to discuss control and possible elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Africa.

Oct. 12, 2010
Summary of the Seventeenth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II) (PDF)
The Seventeenth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on October 12, 2010, to discuss elimination of blinding trachoma and malaria and lymphatic filariasis elimination on Hispaniola.

Jan. 12, 2010
Summary of the Sixteenth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease
Eradication (II) (PDF)
The sixteenth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on January 12, 2010, to discuss tuberculosis.

Oct. 30, 2009
Summary of the Fifteenth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease
Eradication (II) (PDF)
The fifteenth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2009, to discuss rotavirus infection.

Oct. 15, 2009
Eliminating Malaria and Lymphatic Filariasis from Hispaniola
In 2006, the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) concluded that elimination of malaria and lymphatic filariasis (LF) from Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), which is the only endemic island remaining in the Caribbean for both diseases, is "technically feasible, medically desirable, and would be economically beneficial." Former US President Jimmy Carter and staff from The Carter Center visited Dajabón, Dominican Republic and Ouanaminthe, Haiti (clinics, malaria prevention and control offices, homes of families, and mosquito breeding sites) on Oct.7, 2009 and met with the respective heads of state, ministers of health, partner organizations, and donor representatives on October 8. During the visit, the two Ministries of Health announced a bi-national plan to eliminate malaria from the entire island by 2020, at a combined cost of US$194 million (two-thirds for Haiti, one-third for the Dominican Republic) or $1 per person per year, using active epidemiological surveillance, free diagnosis and treatment, health education, and vector control, including selective indoor residual spraying and long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets.
Read the plan: Eliminating Malaria from Hispaniola: A Binational Effort (PDF) >
Read the plan: Eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis from Haiti (PDF) >

June 4, 2009
Summary of the Fourteenth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease
Eradication (II) (PDF)
The fourteenth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 4, 2009 to discuss the potential eradicability of measles (rubeola).

Nov. 28, 2008
Weekly epidemiological record/Releve epidemiologique hebdomadaire, No. 48, 2008, 83, 429–440 (PDF)
Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication, May 2008/Réunion du Groupe spécial international pour l'éradication des maladies, mai 2008.

Oct. 29, 2008
Summary of the Thirteenth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease
Eradication (II) (PDF)
Topics discussed at this meeting were the status of the global campaigns to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) and to eradicate dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), an update on efforts to eliminate malaria and LF from the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), and a report on the First Program Review for Buruli ulcer programs.

May 6, 2008
Summary of the Twelfth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II) (PDF)
The Twelfth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on May 6, 2008. The Task Force reviewed integrated approaches to controlling NTDs.

Oct. 11, 2007
Summary of the Eleventh Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II) (PDF)
The eleventh meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center on Oct. 11, 2007. The Task Force reviewed the problems of Buruli ulcer and yaws and discussed a brief update on the status of cooperative efforts to eliminate malaria and lymphatic filariasis in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Jan. 11, 2007
Summary of the Tenth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II)
The tenth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center on Jan. 11, 2007. The Task Force reviewed the status of evidence pertaining to the potential eradicability of onchocerciasis (river blindness) five years after the Conference on the Eradication of Onchocerciasis met at The Carter Center in January 2002.

May 12, 2006
English: Summary of the Ninth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication II (revised)
French:Récapitulatif de la neuvième réunion de l'Equipe spéciale internationale pour l'éradication des maladies (II) (révisé)
Spanish: Resumen de la novena reunión del ITFDE (II) (revisado)
The ninth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center on May 12, 2006. The Task Force reviewed the status of malaria control in three countries of the Americas.

Oct. 4, 2005
Summary of the Eighth Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication II
The eighth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center on Oct. 4, 2005. The Task Force reviewed the use of bed nets for malaria control.

Jan. 19, 2005
Summary of the Seventh Meeting of the ITFDE (II)
The seventh meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center on Jan. 19, 2005. The Task Force reviewed the prospects for control of trachoma, under the global initiative to "eliminate" blinding trachoma.

March 24, 2004
Summary of the Sixth Meeting of the ITFDE (II)
The summary of the sixth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (PDF), March 2003. The eradicability of visceral leishmaniasis (kala azar) and hookworm disease was assessed at this meeting.

Oct. 16, 2003
Summary of the Fifth Meeting of the ITFDE (II)
This fifth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center on Oct. 14, 2003. The Task Force reviewed the status and strategies of the Dracunculiasis Eradication Program and discussed potential ways to strengthen broader disease control, eradication and primary health services.

April 16, 2003
Summary of the Fourth Meeting of the ITFDE (II)
This fourth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication was convened at The Carter Center on April 16, 2003. The Task Force reviewed the status of efforts to control meningococcal meningitis (cerebro-spinal meningitis) and to eliminate taeniasis/cysticercosis (pdf format).

Oct. 18, 2002
Summary of the Third Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II)
The Task Force reviewed the status of global efforts to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, as well as the control of African trypanosomiasis.

Jan. 25, 2002
Summary of the Second Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II)
This meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication was devoted exclusively to the issue of measles (rubeola) and its potential eradicability.

Jan. 22, 2002
Final Report of the Conference on the Eradicability of Onchocerciasis
Final Report of the Conference on the Eradicability of Onchocerciasis, Jan. 22-24, 2002, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, and The Carter Center (pdf format).

June 18, 2001
Summary of the First Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (II)
During this meeting, the Task Force reviewed the criteria that were developed by the predecessor ITFDE for assessing eradicability of diseases, as well as the definitions of Eradication, Control, and Elimination that were used by the previous ITFDE, and by recent international meetings on disease eradication that were convened in Berlin (1997) and Atlanta (1998). The four diseases that were considered at this meeting were onchocerciasis (river blindness) in the Americas, leprosy (Hansen's disease), schistosomiasis, and Chagas' disease.

Dec. 1, 1993
Recommendations of the International Task Force For Disease Eradication (I), December 1993
ITFDE Report: Recommendations of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (I), December 1993 (PDF format). This report summarizes the conclusions of the(ITFDE), a group of scientists who were convened by a secretariat at The Carter Center of Emory University six times during 1989–1992. The purpose of the ITFDE was to establish criteria and apply them systematically to evaluate the potential eradicability of other diseases in the aftermath of the Smallpox Eradication Program. The ITFDE defined eradication as "reduction of the worldwide incidence of a disease to zero as a result of deliberate efforts, obviating the necessity for further control measures."