MANILA – The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has eliminated lymphatic filariasis, a painful and disabling neglected tropical disease, as a public health problem.
“I would like to congratulate the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for being verified for the elimination of the neglected tropical disease of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The result is a testament to Lao PDR’s dedication to and investment in protecting and promoting its people’s health.” He presented a plaque and certificate to Lao Minister of Health His Excellency Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith in recognition of the achievement during the seventy-fourth session of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific this week in Manila, Philippines.
“Our country’s achievement has been made possible through years of collective efforts by dedicated health workers together with support from WHO and partners, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Asian Development Bank, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Family Health International (FHI 360) and RTI International,” says Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith. “Lymphatic filariasis will never regain a foothold in our country. We will continue to maintain our efforts to prevent and control the disease through surveillance and respond quickly to any cases.”
Lao PDR joins 12 other countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region that have achieved this milestone since 2000, including Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, the Marshall Islands, Palau, the Republic of Korea, Tonga, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Wallis and Futuna.
Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, Acting WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific says: “The success story of eliminating lymphatic filariasis in Lao PDR is a testament to the power of collective actions between the Government, partners, communities and health-care workers to deliver public health results. This achievement reminds us that we can overcome even the most daunting health challenges with determination, commitment and collaboration.”
A major national event will be held in the Lao province of Attapeu on 27 October to mark the accomplishment.
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a parasitic disease spread by mosquitoes that causes the enlargement of body parts, often resulting in pain, severe disability, stigma and associated economic hardship.
To eliminate the disease, which by 2002 was endemic in only one southern Lao province (Attapeu), local health authorities and partners gave preventive medication to at-risk communities from 2012 to 2017. Elimination efforts also benefited from activities to reduce malaria and dengue, including distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and health education campaigns. Partners and donors have supported activities including medication administration, monitoring visits and a survey to assess the disease’s transmission.
Lymphatic filariasis activities underway in Attapeu Province, in Lao People's Democratic Republic, including distribution of medication to at-risk groups. Photo credit: WHO/Enric Catala
“Lao PDR’s elimination of lymphatic filariasis is an outstanding achievement and a reason for great optimism, especially coming so soon after the country’s successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” says WHO Lao PDR Representative Dr Ying-Ru Lo. “Now is the time to invest resources, including funding to sustain and build on this momentum, by maintaining essential health services and continuing to stamp out more diseases.”
A country focused on disease elimination
Lao PDR is working to eliminate two additional vector-borne diseases: malaria and schistosomiasis. For malaria, which is spread by mosquitoes, innovative and aggressive approaches are bringing education, testing, treatment, surveillance and items such as bed nets to remote areas to help the country progress towards elimination by the end of 2023.
By 2030, Lao PDR also hopes to eliminate schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that is spread in the country by snails in water. Elimination efforts include medication; water, sanitation and hygiene promotion; and teaching children about the disease at school.
Note to editors
In 1997, the World Health Assembly resolved to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. In 2000, WHO launched the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis. The programme focuses on stopping the spread of infection through large-scale, annual treatment of all eligible people in affected areas; and alleviating suffering among people affected by lymphatic filariasis by managing morbidity and preventing further disability through an essential package of care.
Since WHO launched the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in 2000, 13 of the 24 endemic countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region have been validated as having eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. These are: Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Kiribati, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Niue, the Marshall Islands, Palau, the Republic of Korea, Tonga, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Wallis and Futuna. The disease remains endemic in American Samoa, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, French Polynesia, Malaysia, the Federated States of Micronesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa and Tuvalu.
Working with 194 Member States across six regions, WHO is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for public health. The WHO Western Pacific Region is home to more than 1.9 billion people. The seventy-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific is taking place from 16 to 20 October 2023 in Manila, Philippines.