The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Brazil for eliminating lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.
Eliminating a disease is a major achievement that requires unwavering commitment. I congratulate Brazil for its efforts to free its people from the scourge of this painful, disfiguring, disabling and stigmatizing disease. This is another example of the incredible progress we have made against neglected tropical diseases and gives hope to many other nations still fighting lymphatic filariasis that they too can eliminate this disease.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a debilitating parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. For centuries, this disease has affected millions around the world, causing pain, chronic, severe swelling, severe disability and social stigma.
Effective investments at the country level
In recent decades, Brazil has implemented comprehensive actions to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, including the development of a national plan to combat this disease in 1997, mass distribution of antiparasitic drugs, vector control activities, and strong surveillance, particularly in the most affected regions. With these efforts, the country achieved the end of transmission of the disease in 2017.
The elimination of lymphatic filariasis was also one of the goals of the Brasil Saudável program, a multisectoral initiative that aims to end socially defined diseases with a whole-of-government approach and civil society participation, including the participation of affected people in the implementation of disease efforts control. The program was launched in February 2024 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a ceremony attended by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and its Regional Director WHO for America. In the post-elimination phase, Brazil, PAHO and WHO will continue to closely monitor for possible re-emergence of infections.
“This milestone is the result of years of dedication, hard work and collaboration between health workers, researchers and authorities in Brazil,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director and WHO Regional Director for the Americas. “Brazil’s extensive and integrated health system, combined with solid specialized laboratory expertise and strong surveillance were essential to interrupting the chain of transmission, inspiring other countries to move towards the elimination of lymphatic filariasis and other neglected tropical diseases.”
Global progress
Globally, Brazil joins 19 other countries and territories endorsed by the WHO to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. These are Malawi and Togo in the African region. Egypt and Yemen in the Eastern Mediterranean region; Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand in the Southeast Asia region; and Cambodia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and Wallis and Futuna in the Western Pacific region.
In the Americas, three endemic countries (Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Haiti) still require mass drug administration to stop transmission and are working toward the elimination goal.
Except it’s the 20thu country to be ratified to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem, Brazil also became the 53rdrd country to have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease worldwide.
