The Rising Nepal released a piece highlighting The Nepalese Government’s plan to launch a major vaccination campaign for the first round of elephantiasis vaccines in 40 districts that are at high risk of elephantiasis.  The campaign will be out by community health workers who will spearhead door-to-door distribution of the medicine over the next 6 years. District Public Health Officer Dhirjung Shah stated that over 3,000 people have been diagnosed with elephantiasis and he plans to lead discussion programs around the country to build awareness surrounding the epidemiology of elephantiasis

It has been estimated that Banke district is at the high risk of elephantiasis as 106 (53 percent) out of 200 sample tests conducted a year ago in Rajhena and Bankatawa VDCs were found infected by the disease.

Elephantiasis is found in over 82 countries and approximately 1.04 million people have been diagnosed with the disease.  Tests show that the infection is usually contracted in childhood and develops into a disease later in life.  The filarial infection is mosquito-borne and several different clinical manifestations such as genital enlargement, high fevers, and lymphoedema of limbs, typically from the waist down.

Elephatiasis, or lymphatic filariasis, is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) and according to World Health Organization (WHO) “during the period of 2000 – 2009 about 2.7 billion treatments were delivered to more than 695 million of individuals.” Intervention and education are key to preventing infections and derailing severe future illnesses.

Congratulations to Nepal for their campaign against elephantiasis!

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