MSF staff during a health promotion session in Sawat Erma, Asmat, Indonesia.
© Veronique Terrasse/MSF
Lymphatic Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by microscopically small worms (filariae) and transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. The parasites reproduce and live in the lymph system, which maintains the body's fluid balance and plays a key role in the body’s immune system.
An adult worm lives between 4-6 years. It mates and releases millions of microfilariae into the blood. Most people don’t show any symptoms. However, the improper functioning of the lymph system can lead to swelling in the legs, arms, breasts (lymphodema) or genitalia. These symptoms often appear years after the infection. Men can develop swelling of the scrotum (hydrocele) after the death of an adult worm.
As a result of the damage to the lymph system, infected people have more bacterial infections in the skin and lymph system. This can cause hardening, thickening and fissuring of the skin (elephantiasis). Although elephantiasis is not curable, many of these bacterial infections can be prevented with appropriate skin hygiene.
The World Health Organization estimates that Lymphatic Filariasis puts over a billion people at risk in more than 80 countries, mainly those in tropical regions. Over 120 million have already been affected, 40 million of whom are seriously incapacitated or disfigured by the disease.
MSF’s mass drug administration campaign in Papua, Indonesia is aimed at drastically reducing the number of parasites in the body. In accordance with the WHO recommendations, MSF provides a yearly dose of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and albendazole that kills the microfilariae circulating in the blood. The drugs must be taken every year over a period of 5 years in order to rid a person of the disease. While these drugs do not kill all of the adult worms, they prevent infected people from developing symptoms and from passing the disease on to another person.