Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination in Kerala: A Success Story

Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in The Gambia

BACKGROUND The prevalence of Wuchereria bancrofti, which causes lymphatic filariasis (LF) in The Gambia was among the highest in Africa in the 1950s. However, surveys conducted in 1975 and 1976 revealed a dramatic decline in LF endemicity in the absence of mass drug administration (MDA). The decline in prevalence was partly attributed to a significant reduction in mosquito density through the w...

Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis) Elimination: A public health success and development opportunity

BACKGROUND: The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, launched following World Health Assembly Resolution 50.29 (WHA 50.29), has been facilitated in its progress by new research findings, drug donations, the availability of diagnostic tools, disability management strategies to help those already suffering and the development of partnerships. The strategy recommended by the World H...

Global Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis: A “Mass Uprising of Compassion”

Hospitals and medical centers often cite compassion as a core value in their mission statements. In contrast, the importance of compassion in global health is rarely acknowledged, even though it is a significant source of motivation and sustenance for those working in the field. The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) provides an illustrative example of the role and promi...

Elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.

The history of the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in China

China used to be one of the most heavily endemic countries for lymphatic filariasis (LF) in the world. There were 864 endemic counties/cities in 16 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities (P/A/M) with a total population of 330 million at risk of infection. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese Government has designated the control of the disease to be a t...