SPREAD OF LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS, REEMERGENCE OF LEISHMANIASIS AND THREAT OF BABESIOSIS IN INDIA

The impact of unabated population growth and consequent ecological cha nges is felt in the spread of vector-borne diseases also. Filariasis, once considered to be more associated with urban areas and urbanizatio n, is rapidly emerging as a major problem in rural areas. The need to delimit the endemic areas through a new rapid assessment procedure and the possible control methods of rural filariasis are discussed. Leish maniasis has re-emerged with a vengeance in some parts of the country and the reasons for this are analyzed. Babesiosis, though zoonotic, ha s the potential to invade the domain of man in India.