WHO Applauds Brazil's Success In Eradicating Lymphatic Filariasis

The World Health Organization (WHO) honored Brazil for its success in eliminating lymphatic filariasis disease, which was a great public health problem in the country. Lymphatic filariasis is also referred as elephantiasis, is a disabling parasitic disease which is caused by mosquitoes. Millions of people have been affected by this disease in the entire world. The symptoms include chronic swelling, the gravity of several disabilities, and a high level of pain, accompanied by social stigma. 

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General at WHO, said in a statement, “Eliminating a disease is a momentous accomplishment that takes unwavering commitment. I congratulate Brazil for its efforts to free its people of the scourge of this painful, disfiguring, disabling and stigmatizing disease. This is another example of our incredible progress against neglected tropical diseases. It gives hope to many other nations still fighting against lymphatic filariasis that they too can eliminate this disease.”

Brazil has taken a lot of measures to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in the past years, which also includes launching a national plan in 1997, widespread distribution of antiparasitic medications, vector control efforts, and enhanced surveillance in heavily affected regions. These programs ended the transmission of disease in the country as of 2017.

The Brasil Saudável program aimed to eradicate lymphatic filariasis as part of a broader initiative to combat socially determined diseases through a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy that involves civil society and the participation of affected individuals in disease control measures. Launched in February 2024 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the program featured a ceremony attended by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, and Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas. In the post-elimination phase, Brazil, along with PAHO and WHO, will maintain vigilant surveillance to detect any potential resurgence of infections.

Dr Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director and WHO Regional Director for the Americas, mentioned, “This milestone is the result of years of dedication, hard work, and collaboration among health workers, researchers, and authorities in Brazil. Brazil’s extensive and unified health system, coupled with solid specialized laboratory expertise and robust surveillance, were essential to interrupt the chain of transmission, inspiring other countries to advance towards the elimination of lymphatic filariasis and other neglected tropical diseases”.

Brazil will, therefore, now join the club of 19 other countries and territories validated by WHO as no longer having lymphatic filariasis. These are Malawi and Togo within the African Region; Egypt and Yemen within the Eastern Mediterranean Region; Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand within the Southeast Asia Region; and Cambodia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, Tonga, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Wallis and Futuna within the Western Pacific Region.

The Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Haiti remain engaged in mass drug administration programs aimed at halting the transmission of lymphatic filariasis and achieving elimination goals. Brazil has recently become the 20th country confirmed to have eradicated lymphatic filariasis as a public health concern. Additionally, it now ranks as the 53rd country worldwide to have successfully eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease.