Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Anti-filariasis drive on Thursday

Thiruvananthapuram: The Health Department will conduct the third round of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for the elimination of filariasis on November 15. Despite the efforts of the department, the programme, which was introduced in 2005, has failed to make a mark among the public as a necessary and effective public health measure

MDA is a WHO-endorsed strategy for the global eradication of filariasis by the year 2015. The programme is to be continued for five consecutive years for successful elimination of the organism microfilariae circulating among the population. The drug will be distributed from house to house by trained volunteers of the Health Department.

Mass Drug Administration over a period of five years, combined with vector control measures, can help break the transmission cycle of the organism. But for this strategy to be successful, the drug coverage in the community should be over 80 per cent.

Ever since the Health Department decided to introduce MDA in 2005, much controversy has been raked up over the safety of the drug, Di ethyl Carbamazine citrate (DE). With the anti-vaccination lobby and representatives of other medicine systems joining the issue, the Department cannot quite convince the public about the safety of MDA.

The first round of MDA held in 2005 reported a coverage of 75 per cent, while the second round in 2006, achieved a coverage of about 84 per cent. However, these figures are only an indication of the level of drug distribution.

The Health Department officials themselves admit openly that the percentage who actually consumed the drug is anybody’s guess.

According to a review article which appeared in the Medical Journal Armed Forces India (MJAFI) last year, Bihar has the highest endemicity for filariasis in the country at over 17 per cent, followed by Kerala, at 15.7 per cent.

It says that the seven States of Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal contribute over 86 per cent of microfilaria carriers and 97 per cent disease cases in the community.

In Thiruvananthapuram, lymphatic filariasis has been reported in large numbers from several areas under the Corporation such as Karamana, Karimadam, and Vattiyoorkavu , in coastal areas and in pockets like Balaramapuram, Kattayikkonam, Kattakkada and Peringammala.

Health Department officials point out that it is necessary to administer the drug to all in the community on a single day because 80 per cent of the population remains asymptomatic carriers of microfilaria.

This time around, apart from three DEC tablets of 100 mg. each, a 400 mg. dose of Albendazole is also being administered so that the adult filarial worms are also destroyed.

The only precaution to be taken is to see to it that the drug is not consumed on an empty stomach.

The Health Department has also suggested that pregnant women as well as those who have renal/coronary problems or hypertension need not take the drug.

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