Global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: Progress report on mass drug administration in 2007

Overview

During 2007, significant scaling-up of mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF) achieved coverage of 48 countries where the disease is endemic. China became the first country declared to have eliminated the disease as a public health problem. By the end of 2007, 81 countries remained on the list of those endemic for the disease: 61 had completed mapping to identify implementation units that require MDA; mapping is under way in 16 countries; and 4 have yet to start. Surveys carried out in Cape Verde, Costa Rica, the Solomon Islands, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago indicate that these countries, categorized as endemic, may no longer have active transmission foci and may therefore not require MDA interventions in the future. In March 2008, the Republic of Korea was also declared to have eliminated LF as a public health problem.