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DISSECT project

This four-year research project aimed to put people first in the elimination of the neglected tropical disease onchocerciasis.

Two men standing by a river stare at a black fly trap, which consists of a square piece of blue tarpaulin attached to a wooden frame. There are also tubes that lead into water containers.

The DISSECT project aimed to advance the elimination of the parasitic infection onchocerciasis (also known as river blindness) as a global public health problem.

The project was a large-scale research initiative led by Sightsavers between 2021 and 2025, in partnership with the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), ministries of health and research partners in Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

It focused on strengthening the capacity of affected countries to collect and study the blackflies that transmit the neglected tropical disease (NTD) onchocerciasis. One of its objectives was to develop alternatives to the outdated ‘human landing catch’ method, which involves using people as bait to capture the flies.

Countries across Africa need to collect thousands of blackflies every year to monitor disease prevalence. Unfortunately, the human landing catch method exposes flycatchers to significant risks – not only from the blackflies but also from other disease-carrying insects, snakes and extreme weather conditions. This is a profound injustice in global health that must be addressed.

The project led to some key findings that could help to modernise global efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis.

A man wearing a straw hat sits on a chair by a river.
Across Africa, human flycatchers are required to act as bait to catch blackflies near rivers.

Key findings from the project

Blackfly traps are an effective alternative to human bait

Through the DISSECT programme, Sightsavers set out to identify the optimal design for blackfly traps that could replace the use of humans as bait. Once the best designs were determined, we found that seven pairs of these traps could perform as effectively as one human flycatcher. The traps are easy to set up, require minimal maintenance in the field and offer a practical solution to help countries move away from outdated practices.

A woman draws on a blackfly trap, which consists of a square piece of blue tarpaulin attached to a wooden frame.
The DISSECT project tested a number of designs for blackfly traps to find out which one was the most effective.

Blackfly traps can help to reduce fly populations

Our study found that blackfly traps are not only useful in the capture and study of blackflies, but also offer other benefits. When set up in specific configurations, the traps help to reduce blackfly populations near breeding sites. In future, countries may be able to use this technology to protect communities from blackfly bites and the risk of contracting onchocerciasis.

Watch the video to learn more about the newly developed blackfly traps.

A toolkit for success

As part of the project, we developed and tested a toolkit to help countries implement World Health Organization guidance on blackfly collection. This includes instructions on how to find blackfly breeding locations along rivers, and how to position the traps developed during the DISSECT project.

Our study found that the toolkit was accessible and easy to use by individuals with varying scientific backgrounds. It also helped to standardise the way scientific data was collected across the four countries involved in the project.

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“The completion of the DISSECT project marks an important step forward in the fight against river blindness. Through innovation, collaboration and shared purpose, we have shown what’s possible when science and partnership come together to address cross-border health challenges. This model of cooperation not only strengthens disease elimination efforts but also brings us closer to the ultimate goal: a world free from neglected tropical diseases.”

Simon Bland, CEO, Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)

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