Lymphatic filariasis in the Southeast Asian region; status and control options

Abstract

Abstract The Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) was launched in year 2000 by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the goal set for elimination by 2020. Over half the global disease burden lies in the Southeast Asian region (SEAR). The preventive chemotherapy (PC) programme has been initiated in all the WHO SEAR member states with varying levels of progress. Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand have achieved the goal of elimination as a public health problem (EPHP) within the stipulated period with Bangladesh working towards validation in 2021. Both Sri Lanka and Thailand are continuing with post-validation surveillance combined with selective treatment, striving for zero transmission in-parallel with the morbidity management and disability prevention program (MMDP). Timor-Leste appears close to reaching critical transmission thresholds with 100% coverage and triple therapy in the last round of PC. Data on MMDP activities are insufficient to comment on reaching EPHP status. PC coverage and country reports indicate on-going transmission in Nepal, Myanmar, Indonesia and India requiring further rounds of PC. The PELF has made considerable progress in the SEAR towards elimination but there still remain significant transmission and disease burden in the highly populated countries in SEAR.