The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7169 p510-525
13 October 2001

BPC 2001 summary

Eliminating lymphatic filariasis

By administering two drugs once a year for five years we can prevent the next generation of children suffering the afflictions that lymphatic filariasis brings. This was the message delivered by Professor David Molyneux, Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, in his presentation “Innovative public/private partnership for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis”, which he gave during the Conference symposium on 25 September.

Professor Molyneux began by showing, in graphic detail, the horrendous symptoms that people with the disease suffer. He explained that lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a disabling and disfiguring condition which currently affects 120 million people in 80 tropical countries. Lymphatic filariasis is caused by thread-like worms whose infective larvae are spread by mosquitoes. The adult worms damage the lymphatic system by causing fluid to collect which gives rise to swelling in the arms, legs, breasts and genitals. However, the antiparasitic drug, albendazole, given with an antifilarial, either ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine, interrupts the transmission of infection.

Professor Molyneux described the programme that has now been put in place that brings together both public and private organisations to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. This innovative global partnership includes: international organisations such as, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the World Bank, the private sector, for example, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck, international development agencies, and academic and research organisations such as his own at the Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre. Each group brings its own expertise to the programme. So, for example, GlaxoSmithKline provides drugs, logistics and shipping. The programme is successful for several reasons: it makes an effective intervention with available technology; both donors and countries are committed to the partnership; the time frame is realistic.

A 1995 World Health Report identified lymphatic filariasis as the second leading cause of permanent disability in the world, after mental illness. It is hoped that the impact of the programme will be to eliminate the disease within 20 years.
—Contributed by Diane Langleben, editor of Hospital Pharmacist.

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