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"Optimism that elimination can be achieved lies in the availability of safe, single dose, two drug treatment regimens capable of reducing microfilaraemia to near zero levels for one year or more, along with remarkable improvement in techniques for diagnosing the infection. Vector control, which is logistically challenging, is desirable but not required to interrupt transmission".
We just have one comment that:
Since humans are the only definitive host in filariasis (no extra-human or animal as a definitive host) , it can be globally "ERADICATED" if the whole target population (susceptible population or those living in endemic areas), is covered by the effective drugs, viz Diethylcarbazemine or DEC and albendazol/ivermectine.
Reference:
1. BMJ 2009;338:b1686
Footnote:
According to https://www.cartercenter.org/health/itfde/program_definition.html:
Elimination: Refers to cessation of transmission of a disease in a single country, continent, or other limited geographic area, rather than global eradication (e.g., polio in the Americas). It is also theoretically possible to "eliminate" a disease in humans while the microbe remains at large (e.g., neonatal tetanus). Although a disease itself may remain, a particularly undesirable clinical manifestation of it may be prevented entirely (e.g., blindness from trachoma) or new transmission interrupted (e.g., infectious yaws). Control of a disease or its manifestations to a level that it is no longer considered "a public health problem," as an arbitrarily defined qualitative (e.g., onchocerciasis in West Africa) or quantitative (e.g., leprosy incidence below one case per 10,000 population) level of disease control.
The end of lymphatic filariasis? Not only eliminated, it can be eradicated as there is no animal/extrahuman reservoir
Author says at one place that1:
"Optimism that elimination can be achieved lies in the availability of safe, single dose, two drug treatment regimens capable of reducing microfilaraemia to near zero levels for one year or more, along with remarkable improvement in techniques for diagnosing the infection. Vector control, which is logistically challenging, is desirable but not required to interrupt transmission".
We just have one comment that:
Since humans are the only definitive host in filariasis (no extra-human or animal as a definitive host) , it can be globally "ERADICATED" if the whole target population (susceptible population or those living in endemic areas), is covered by the effective drugs, viz Diethylcarbazemine or DEC and albendazol/ivermectine.
Reference:
1. BMJ 2009;338:b1686
Footnote:
According to https://www.cartercenter.org/health/itfde/program_definition.html:
Elimination: Refers to cessation of transmission of a disease in a single country, continent, or other limited geographic area, rather than global eradication (e.g., polio in the Americas). It is also theoretically possible to "eliminate" a disease in humans while the microbe remains at large (e.g., neonatal tetanus). Although a disease itself may remain, a particularly undesirable clinical manifestation of it may be prevented entirely (e.g., blindness from trachoma) or new transmission interrupted (e.g., infectious yaws). Control of a disease or its manifestations to a level that it is no longer considered "a public health problem," as an arbitrarily defined qualitative (e.g., onchocerciasis in West Africa) or quantitative (e.g., leprosy incidence below one case per 10,000 population) level of disease control.
Competing interests: No competing interests