Lao PDR becomes second country in 2023 after Bangladesh to eliminate lymphatic filariasis

Subject :Science and tech

Section: Health

Context:

Lao People’s Democratic Republic has eliminated lymphatic filariasis (LF), a disease that cripples and has significant social and economic impact on the affected communities according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
This is the country’s second neglected tropical disease (NTD) to be eliminated in six years, following the elimination of trachoma as a public health hazard in 2017.

Countries that have eliminated the LF:

Lao PDR is now the second country after Bangladesh to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) in 2023.
Nineteen countries have been able to eliminate LF.
- 11 belong to the WHO Western Pacific Region (WPR).Lao PDR is the 11th country in the WPR region to successfully eliminate LF.
- Four countries viz. Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand in the WHO South-East Asia region have eliminated LF.
- In the WHO Africa region, two countries — Malawi and Togo – have eliminated the disease.
- In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean’s Yemen have eliminated the LF.

About LF:

LF, also known as elephantiasis, is a preventable mosquito-borne infectious disease targeted for global elimination as a public health problem. It occurs when one of the filarial parasites — Wuchereriabancrofti, Brugiamalayi and B. timori — are transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.
The parasites nest in the lymph vessels, damaging them. This leads to hydrocele, lymphedema, and elephantiasis.

Tackling LF:

The most cost-effective method for treating all affected residents of LF-endemic areas and stopping future transmission is mass drug administration (MDA).
WHO recommends the triple therapy combination of ivermectin (I), diethylcarbamazine (D) and albendazole (A), for MDA against LF. Multiple rounds of MDA,covering over 65 per centof the population, are required.
10 countries stopped MDA nationally, which means these are on the right track to eliminating LF. These include — Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Mali, Sao Tome and Principe, Uganda, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam.

Global efforts to eliminate LF:

Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis:
- Launched in 2000 by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
- Over the last 15 years, the global population requiring LF interventions has decreased by 53 per cent.
- China participated in the program and became LF free in 2007.
The Road Map for NTDs 2021-2030 had a target to eliminate LF from 23 countries by 2023.
The elimination of NTDs by 2030 is one of the primary objectives of the United Nations-mandated global sustainable development goal of “health for all” (SDG 3).

Source: DownToEarth