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Progress against LF

In January 2008 we marked ten years since GSK committed to donating as many doses of Albendazole, our anti-parasitic drug, as are needed to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.

In October 2008 a study published in the Public library of Science (PLoS) journal celebrated the efforts of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GAELF). It stated that the programme is the fastest growing drug administration programme in public health history, delivering what the study referred to as a “best buy in public health”.  It recorded that the programme had at the end of 2007 prevented 6.6 million children from acquiring LF and stopped a further 9.5 million infected people from progressing to more debilitating stages.

Read a summary of the LF PLoS IMPACT paper (PDF 438Kb)
Read a full report of the LF PLoS IMPACT paper (PDF 446Kb)

So far Egypt, several Pacific Islands countries, Sri Lanka and Zanzibar have completed the minimum five annual mass drug administrations recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). They are now undergoing post-programme surveillance and treatment of residual pockets of infection. Other countries are joining the programme or expanding their activities to new areas.

Albendazole has the additional benefits of treating and preventing intestinal worm infections. In some regions, more than 90 percent of children are infected with them – anaemia, malnutrition and growth stunting are common consequences. It is estimated that tens of millions Albendazole treatments have now been administered to children with intestinal worm infections.

In Tanzania LF patients going through mass drug administration programme have reported health improvements. Their legs are less swollen and the frequency and duration of their acute attacks have been researched to understand it further.

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