The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Brazil for having eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.
“Eliminating a disease is a momentous achievement that requires unwavering commitment,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “I congratulate Brazil for its efforts to free its people from the scourge of this painful, disfiguring, disabling and stigmatizing disease. This is another example of the incredible progress we have made against neglected tropical diseases and gives hope to many other nations still struggling. against lymphatic filariasis that can also eliminate this disease.
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a debilitating parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. For centuries, this disease has affected millions of people around the world, causing pain, chronic and severe swelling, severe disability and social stigmatization.
Effective investments at the country level
In recent decades, Brazil has implemented integrated actions to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, such as the development of a national plan to combat this disease in 1997, the mass distribution of antiparasitic drugs, vector control activities and strict surveillance, especially in the most affected areas. With these efforts, the country managed to end the transmission of the disease in 2017.
The elimination of lymphatic filariasis was also one of the objectives of the Brasil Saudável program, a multi-sector initiative aimed at ending socially determined diseases with a whole-of-government approach and the participation of civil society, including the participation of individuals affected in the implementation of disease control efforts. The program was launched in February 2024 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a ceremony with the participation of the Director General of the WHO, and Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Regional Director of WHO for the Americas.
In the post-elimination phase, Brazil, PAHO and WHO will continue to closely monitor the possible resurgence of infections.
“This milestone is the result of years of dedication, hard work and collaboration between health workers, researchers and authorities in Brazil,” said Dr. Barbosa. “Brazil’s extensive and unified health system, together with strong specialized laboratory expertise and robust surveillance, were essential in interrupting the chain of transmission, inspiring other countries to move towards the elimination of lymphatic filariasis and other tropical diseases. neglected.”
Global progress
At the global level, Brazil joins 19 other countries and territories in the world that have been validated by the WHO for having eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. These are Malawi and Togo in the African region; Egypt and Yemen in the Eastern Mediterranean; Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand in Southeast Asia; and Cambodia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, Tonga, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Wallis and Futuna in the Western Pacific Region.
In the Americas, three endemic countries (Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Haiti) still require mass administration of medications to stop transmission and are working toward the elimination goal.
In addition to being the twentieth country validated for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem, Brazil has also become the fifty-third country to have eliminated at least one NTD worldwide.
Note to editors
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease. Infection occurs when parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. The infection is usually acquired in childhood and causes hidden damage to the lymphatic system.
The painful and disfiguring visible manifestations of the disease – lymphedema, elephantiasis and scrotal swelling – occur later in life and can lead to permanent disability. These patients are not only physically disabled, but suffer mental, social and financial losses that contribute to stigma and poverty.
Elimination of lymphatic filariasis is possible by stopping the spread of infection through preventive chemotherapy. The preventive chemotherapy strategy recommended by the WHO for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis is mass drug administration. This consists of administering an annual dose of medications to the entire population at risk. The drugs used have a limited effect on adult parasites, but effectively reduce the density of microfilariae in the bloodstream and prevent the spread of parasites to mosquitoes.
In 2023, 657 million people in 39 countries and territories lived in areas that require preventive chemotherapy to stop the spread of infection. In the Americas, Costa Rica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago were removed from the WHO list of lymphatic filariasis endemic countries in 2011.
The 2021-2030 roadmap for neglected tropical diseases targets the prevention, control, elimination and eradication of 20 diseases and disease groups by 2030. Progress against lymphatic filariasis and other neglected tropical diseases alleviates human and economic burden they impose on the world’s most disadvantaged communities.