Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis ... - libdoc.who.int

EGYPT71Endemicity statusEndemicNon-endemicUncertainAnnual Report on Lymphatic Filariasis 2003LF is a public health problem in Egypt. Egypt has an estimatedpopulation of over 74 million, of whom more than60% reside in the densely populated governorates of theNile Delta. The LF at-risk population was estimated at 2.8million. The LF clinical manifestations evaluated in sentinelsites show a hydrocele prevalence from 0.5% to 11%and a lymphoedema prevalence from 0% to 22%.The administrative division designated as an IU is thevillage. Mapping concerns an estimated 179 endemicvillages in eight of the 26 governorates. The pre-MDA mfprevalence ranged from 0.2% to 4.2% in sentinel sites.The first MDA round under PELF began in 2000 and covered97% of the IUs, using a door-to-door drug distributionstrategy. The second and third rounds in 2001 and2002 covered 99.4% and 100% of the IUs, respectively.The fourth round in 2003 targeted 2.8 million people witha reported coverage (eligible population) of 93.2% (range:90% to 93%). Between 2000 and 2003, 71 training courseswere conducted for MDA, and 1758 people were trained.As part of the ministry’s active surveillance, 54 villages(two per district), representing the eight endemic governorates,were surveyed in August 2003. These sentinelvillages were chosen because they had relativelyhigh baseline mf prevalence rates (before the nationalelimination programme) or low coverage rates in thelast MDA campaign. A total of 500 inhabitants per villagewere surveyed at night for mf (thick smears); sevenvillages (13%) were reported to have at least one mfpositivesubject. The mf prevalence in positive villagesranged between 0.2% and 1%.The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt conductedthe LF elimination programme. WHO and AFESDprovided financial and technical support. GSK donatesalbendazole to treat the entire population.Chapter 3 Programme implementationTable 3.15 Goal: to eliminate LF from Egypt by 2008Objectives• To interrupt transmission of LFStrategies• MDA, using DEC plus albendazole tablets, with door-to-door distribution• To prevent disability associated with LF• Palliative treatment done by the outpatient clinics of two institutes:- Research Institute for Medical Entomology and the National Institutefor Tropical Diseases