Lymphatic Filariasis

August 12, 2023

The second phase of the annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration initiative for Lymphatic Filariasis was launched recently.
It will cover 81 districts in nine endemic States. This includes Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
India is committed to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027, three years ahead of the global target(2030) through mission mode.
- Over 40% of global cases are found in India.

Lymphatic system is a network of vessels and specialized tissues that are essential to maintaining the overall fluid balance and health of organs and limbs and, importantly, are a major component of the body’s immune defense system.

About Lymphatic Filariasis

It impairs the lymphatic system and can lead to the abnormal enlargement of body parts, causing pain, severe disability and social stigma.
It is commonly known as elephantiasis.
It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD).
It is a vector-borne disease, caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filarioidea.
Spread from person to person by mosquitoes.