Current status and future prospects of the Global Lymphatic Filariasis Programme

Lymphatic filariasis is recognized as one of the world's most disabling dis eases. Adult lymphatic filarial nematodes live for several years; they infe st the lymphatic and blood systems, and are transmitted via mosquito vector s. Acute and chronic disease can develop, manifesting as acute inflammation , hydrocoele, lymphoedema and elephantiasis. The development of a global pr ogramme for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (focusing on disease ca used by Wuchereria bancrofti) followed a resolution by the World Health Ass embly in 1997 that endemic countries should develop programmes to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. This developed from an ea rlier recommendation by the international Task Force for Disease Eradicatio n in 1993 that lymphatic filariasis was one of six diseases that could, in theory, be eradicated. Herein we review the current status and future prosp ects of the Global Lymphatic Filariasis Programme, which was launched in 20 00. Curr Opin infect Dis 14:156-159. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins .