Lymphatic filariasis not neglected disease for India, multi-drug administration to be held twice a year: Mandaviya

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Last Updated17/01/2023

Union Health Minister recently said that Lymphatic filariasis is not a neglected disease for India as may be the case in some other countries but is a priority for elimination in a time-bound manner.

About: It is commonly known as elephantiasis and is considered as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) - second most disabling disease after mental health.
Impairs the lymphatic system: It can lead to the abnormal enlargement of body parts, causing pain, severe disability and social stigma.
Lymphatic system: It is a network of vessels and specialised tissues that are essential to maintaining the overall fluid balance and health of organs and limbs.
A vector-borne disease: It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filarioidea.
3 types of thread-like filarial worms causing lymphatic filariasis:
Wuchereria Bancrofti is responsible for 90% of the cases.
Brugia Malayi causes most of the remainder of the cases.
Brugia Timori also causes the disease.
Treatment: WHO recommends three drug treatments to accelerate the global elimination of lymphatic filariasis - ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate and albendazole (IDA).

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Affected states: An estimated 650 million Indians across 21 states and union territories are at risk of lymphatic filariasis.
Incidence of the disease: >40% of worldwide cases are found in India.
Govt initiatives: Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (APELF), 2018 & IDA treatment (triple drug therapy) in a phased manner.

WHO’s New Roadmap for 2021–2030: To prevent, control, eliminate and eradicate a set of 20 diseases, termed neglected tropical diseases, by 2030.
Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF): Established by WHO to stop transmission of infection with Mass Drug Administration (MDA) & to alleviate suffering among people affected by it through morbidity manage-ment and disability prevention (MMDP).