More than 41 million of those cases are in Africa. An additional 900 million people are at risk. Fortunately, transmission of the infection can be halted by treating infected individuals once a year, for four to six years, with a single-dose combination of oral medicines. The main drug for this infection is mectizan in combination with albendazole. In patients with elephantiasis, binding affected limbs with compressive bandages and practicing proper hygiene helps reduce swelling and discomfort.
Lymphatic filariasis is one of the only six infectious diseases in the world considered eradicable.
To help meet that goal, The Carter Center's Global 2000 Program is working to help eliminate lymphatic filariasis in Nigeria, the country with the greatest number of persons infected in Africa. Similar to its work to combat river blindness, Global 2000 is working with the government, health authorities, and villagers to establish and implement community-based drug treatment plans. Field staff will emphasize health education and the training and supervision of local village health workers. The hope is that within 15 years lymphatic filariasis will no longer be a public health problem in Nigeria.