Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis. Progress report for 2004

Overview

In 2004, 35 of the 83 countries and territories classified as lymphatic  filariasis  (LF)-endemic  benefited  from  mass drug  administration  (MDA)  designed  to  eliminate  lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem; 4 countries  that  had  carried  out  MDA  in  previous  years were  unable  to  do  so  in  2004 .  Out  of  almost 110 million  people  targeted  for  MDA  under  the  WHO-recommended strategies administration of either diethyl-carbamazine citrate (DEC) plus albendazole or DEC-fortified  salt  or,  where  onchocerciasis  is  co-endemic  with  LF, ivermectin  plus  albendazole),  it  was  reported  that  more than 76.5 million people ingested the 2-drug combinations–  albendazole  plus  DEC  or  albendazole  plus  ivermectin. Brazil, Guyana and India targeted a total of 326.8 million people using DEC alone or DEC-fortified salt, of whom it was reported that 171.6 million ingested the drug. The MDA with DEC alone in India began in 1996, and was extended to 196 districts in 2004.