World Health Organization launches global campaign to eliminate filariasis. The WHO in collaboration with a number of international agencies has launched a global campaign to eliminate filariasis by the year 2020. It is estimated that the disease affects 120 million people in 80 countries, and that as many as 1 billion people are at risk of contracting the infection in tropical regions. Filariasis was selected from a group of 6 infectious diseases that could be eradicated because of advances in diagnosis, treatment and transmission of this disease. Adult worms live for 4 to 6 years in the lymphatic system and female worms release microfilariae into the blood stream.
Transmission occurs through mosquito bites.
The adult worms lodge in the lymphatic vessels causing debilitating lymphedema. In endemic areas, about one half of affected men experience hydrocele and genital damage. The global eradication program aims to break the cycle of transmission of the disease between mosquitoes and humans. The drugs are donated by the pharmaceutical companies Merck and SmithKline Beecham. Time for change for Institutional Review Boards.