BRAZIL—The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared that Brazil has eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.

This significant achievement comes after decades of concerted efforts to eradicate the disease, with Brazil implementing integrated actions that have steadily reduced its prevalence.

Brazil began fighting lymphatic filariasis in 1997, developing a national plan to combat the disease.

This plan included the mass distribution of antiparasitic drugs, extensive vector control activities, and a strong surveillance system, particularly in regions most affected by the disease.

As a result of these comprehensive actions, the country successfully halted disease transmission by 2017.

Eliminating lymphatic filariasis is a key objective of the Brasil Saudável program, a multisectoral initiative launched by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in February 2024.

The program, which aimed to end socially determined diseases, utilized a whole-of-government approach and involved civil society, including those directly affected by the disease, in its implementation.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, and Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas, attended the  Brasil Saudável program launch ceremony.

Following this elimination, Brazil, PAHO, and WHO will continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent the disease from resurging.

Speaking during the event declaration event, Dr. Barbosa emphasized that this milestone results from years of dedicated work and collaboration among Brazilian health workers, researchers, and government authorities.

He praised the country’s unified health system, specialized laboratory expertise, and robust surveillance, which were critical in breaking the transmission cycle.

He also noted that Brazil’s success inspires other nations striving to eliminate lymphatic filariasis and other neglected tropical diseases.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed these sentiments, calling the elimination of a disease a “momentous accomplishment” that reflects Brazil’s unwavering commitment to public health.

He congratulated the nation for freeing its people from a painful, disfiguring, and stigmatizing disease, adding that this achievement offers hope to other countries still grappling with lymphatic filariasis.

With Brazil’s success, it now joins 19 other countries and territories validated by WHO for having eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.

These include nations across various regions, such as Malawi and Togo in Africa; Egypt and Yemen in the Eastern Mediterranean; Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka in Southeast Asia; and Cambodia, Kiribati, and Tonga in the Western Pacific.

However, in the Americas, three countries—Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Haiti—still require mass drug administration to stop transmission as they work towards their elimination goals.

Additionally, Brazil’s achievement marks it as the 20th country to eliminate lymphatic filariasis and the 53rd country to have eradicated at least one neglected tropical disease.

 Lymphatic filariasis, commonly referred to as elephantiasis, is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes.

 It often results in severe swelling, disability, and social stigma. Infection usually occurs in childhood, but the disease can remain hidden for years, causing long-term damage to the lymphatic system.

Preventive chemotherapy, particularly through WHO’s mass drug administration (MDA) strategy, is the key to eliminating lymphatic filariasis. MDA involves giving an annual dose of medicine to the entire at-risk population.

While the medicines used do not kill adult parasites, they significantly reduce the number of microfilariae in the bloodstream, preventing the spread of the parasites to mosquitoes and halting further disease transmission.

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