Impact of the Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program towards elimination of filariasis in Vanuatu, 1997–2006
Abstract Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF) occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. The filarial worms affect the lymphatic system which leads to abnormal enlargement of body parts, chronic pain, disability, and social discrimination. In 1999, a commitment was...
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doaj-eb6080c14b4943359baec1a352f8f7fd2020-11-24T21:18:33ZengBMCTropical Medicine and Health1349-41472017-06-0145111110.1186/s41182-017-0047-8Impact of the Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program towards elimination of filariasis in Vanuatu, 1997–2006Tammy Allen0Fasihah Taleo1Patricia M. Graves2Peter Wood3George Taleo4Margaret C. Baker5Mark Bradley6Kazuyo Ichimori7College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook UniversityVanuatu Ministry of Health, Government of the Republic of VanuatuCollege of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook UniversityJames Cook UniversityVanuatu Ministry of Health, Government of the Republic of VanuatuRTI InternationalGlobal Health Program, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)Nagasaki UniversityAbstract Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF) occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. The filarial worms affect the lymphatic system which leads to abnormal enlargement of body parts, chronic pain, disability, and social discrimination. In 1999, a commitment was made to eliminate LF from the Pacific Region by 2010. The Pacific Program to Eliminate LF began, with Vanuatu being one of the 16 endemic countries included in this program. Methods In 1997/1998 a LF prevalence baseline survey was conducted to determine the need for mass drug administration (MDA) in Vanuatu. In 1999, the Vanuatu Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program was established, and nationwide MDA was implemented from 2000 to 2004. LF prevalence was collected during the MDA through sentinel site and spot check surveys, and after 5 years of MDA. MDA implementation methods included health worker training, social mobilization, and culturally appropriate health promotion strategies. Results LF prevalence at baseline was 4.79%; after MDA this declined to 0.16% in 2005/2006. Average MDA coverage ranged from 75.5–81.5% across 5 years. All three evaluation units surveyed in 2005/2006 were below the 1% threshold required to stop MDA. Conclusions The LF Control Program between 1997 and 2006 was successful in reducing LF prevalence to <1%. High MDA coverage was a critical component of this success. This period of the Vanuatu LF Control Program played an important role in helping to eliminate LF in Vanuatu.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41182-017-0047-8VanuatuLymphatic filariasisPacELFEliminationMass drug administration |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Tammy Allen Fasihah Taleo Patricia M. Graves Peter Wood George Taleo Margaret C. Baker Mark Bradley Kazuyo Ichimori |
spellingShingle |
Tammy Allen Fasihah Taleo Patricia M. Graves Peter Wood George Taleo Margaret C. Baker Mark Bradley Kazuyo Ichimori Impact of the Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program towards elimination of filariasis in Vanuatu, 1997–2006 Tropical Medicine and Health Vanuatu Lymphatic filariasis PacELF Elimination Mass drug administration |
author_facet |
Tammy Allen Fasihah Taleo Patricia M. Graves Peter Wood George Taleo Margaret C. Baker Mark Bradley Kazuyo Ichimori |
author_sort |
Tammy Allen |
title |
Impact of the Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program towards elimination of filariasis in Vanuatu, 1997–2006 |
title_short |
Impact of the Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program towards elimination of filariasis in Vanuatu, 1997–2006 |
title_full |
Impact of the Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program towards elimination of filariasis in Vanuatu, 1997–2006 |
title_fullStr |
Impact of the Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program towards elimination of filariasis in Vanuatu, 1997–2006 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Impact of the Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program towards elimination of filariasis in Vanuatu, 1997–2006 |
title_sort |
impact of the lymphatic filariasis control program towards elimination of filariasis in vanuatu, 1997–2006 |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Tropical Medicine and Health |
issn |
1349-4147 |
publishDate |
2017-06-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF) occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. The filarial worms affect the lymphatic system which leads to abnormal enlargement of body parts, chronic pain, disability, and social discrimination. In 1999, a commitment was made to eliminate LF from the Pacific Region by 2010. The Pacific Program to Eliminate LF began, with Vanuatu being one of the 16 endemic countries included in this program. Methods In 1997/1998 a LF prevalence baseline survey was conducted to determine the need for mass drug administration (MDA) in Vanuatu. In 1999, the Vanuatu Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program was established, and nationwide MDA was implemented from 2000 to 2004. LF prevalence was collected during the MDA through sentinel site and spot check surveys, and after 5 years of MDA. MDA implementation methods included health worker training, social mobilization, and culturally appropriate health promotion strategies. Results LF prevalence at baseline was 4.79%; after MDA this declined to 0.16% in 2005/2006. Average MDA coverage ranged from 75.5–81.5% across 5 years. All three evaluation units surveyed in 2005/2006 were below the 1% threshold required to stop MDA. Conclusions The LF Control Program between 1997 and 2006 was successful in reducing LF prevalence to <1%. High MDA coverage was a critical component of this success. This period of the Vanuatu LF Control Program played an important role in helping to eliminate LF in Vanuatu. |
topic |
Vanuatu Lymphatic filariasis PacELF Elimination Mass drug administration |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41182-017-0047-8 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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