Eastern Visayas is PHL’s First Filariaris–free Region, Says DOH

Tacloban City (PNA) –- Eastern Visayas is the country’s first lymphatic filariasis-free region in the country, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

This after the province of Northern Samar passed the filariasis evaluation among primary school entrants held last year.

The province is the 20th to be included among the list of endemic provinces in the country that achieved the elimination of filariasis as a public health problem under the disease free zone initiatives, according to assistant secretary Enrique A. Tayag in a letter addressed to health regional director, Dr. Jose R. Llacuna.

Analiza L. Balila, National Filariasis Elimination Program manager in Eastern Visayas received the plaque on behalf of Northern Samar Governor Jose L. Ong III during the celebration of the One Billionth Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Treatment held in Davao City and spearheaded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The first province to be declared as filariasis-free was Southern Leyte way back in 2008 followed by Biliran in 2010.

Eastern Samar attained similar feat in 2012 while North Leyte and Western Samar were named filariasis-free in 2013.

Lymphatic filariasis was endemic in Eastern Visayas way back 1998 with three micro-filaria rate, she said.

“If you have more than one micro filarial rate your province is considered endemic for filariasis,” she explained.

Filariasis, according to the DOH is a major parasitic infection endemic in 44 provinces in the country.

Also known as elephantiasis, it is caused by a parasite known as filariae that is transmitted by mosquitoes. Its manifestations can be seen 10 years after the infection to include among others the swelling of limbs and genital organs.

An annual mass drug administration with the use of combined Diethylcarbamazine Citrate and Albendazole drugs has been implemented by the DOH as part of its intervention to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem by 2017. (PNA) LAP/PGLENA/EGR