Lymphatic Filariasis And The Global Elimination Program

Rahmah Noordin, (2007) Lymphatic Filariasis And The Global Elimination Program. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 14 (1). pp. 1-3. ISSN 1394195X

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) affects ~ 120 million
people worldwide and ~1.1 billion people are at risk
of acquiring this infection in 83 countries. It has
been identified by the World Health Organization
(WHO) as the world’s second leading cause of permanent disability and a major impediment to socioeconomic development, thus a major contributor to poverty of the affected countries. However lymphatic filariasis often is given low priority in health care systems of developing
countries, as compared to diseases that cause mortality. Thus it is listed by WHO as one of the main diseases under the Neglected Tropical Diseases continues. Lymphatic filariasis is caused by three species of filaria namely Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. The first species causes bancroftian filariasis and is responsible for 90% of the infection; while the latter two species cause brugian filariasis which account for 10% or ~13 million infections. Brugia is the predominant species
in Asia namely in Indonesia, South India, South China, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and South Korea. In Malaysia, endemic areas are found in the states of Sarawak, Sabah, Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Johor. The main endemic areas for W. bancrofti are in India, Africa, South America, parts of Middle East and the Pacific islands.

Affiliations

Abstract