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Lymphatic filariasis (Elephantiasis)

In 2022, preventive chemotherapy (PC) to eliminate the transmission of LF infection was considered required in 44 out of 72 endemic countries. Due to the tremendous efforts of national programmes, more than 9.3 billion treatments have been delivered worldwide in 71 countries since the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) was launched in 2000. Twenty-nine countries or territories have reduced infection prevalence to levels at which transmission is assumed not to be sustainable. Nineteen of these countries or territories have now been acknowledged as achieving the elimination of LF as a public health problem.

 

The total population in all implementation units (IUs) in a given country with evidence of more than 1% infection prevalence is considered to require PC. Globally, in 2022 the total population of such IUs was 794 million and declining as more and more IUs undergo and successfully pass the WHO recommended Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS).

 

 

PCT databank

 

Progress towards achieving the Roadmap targets for control and elimination of the Neglected Tropical Diseases

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