Lymphatic filariasis elimination programme in India: progress and challenges.

摘要

The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme upscaled the mass drug administration (MDA) to treat the entire endemic population of 590 million by 2007, compared to 41 million in 1997 and 77 million in 2002. An independent evaluation in 2007 showed that the treatment coverage, an important indicator of the programme performance, ranged from 55% to 89% in better-developed states, whereas it was only 0-35% in less-developed states. MDA in 1450 urban areas is challenging because of heterogeneity of the population, housing and health services and low perception of the threat of lymphatic filariasis (LF). LF has been declining in urban areas because of socioeconomic improvements and self-protection against mosquitoes. Community level studies showed that MDA leads to tremendous reduction in infection and chronic disease prevalence.