India will miss the target date of stamping out elephantiasis or lymphatic filariasis, one of two diseases that it was hoping to eliminate by 2020.The national health policy had aimed at eliminating filariasis by 2015. This involves giving at least 65% of the population in endemic districts two drugs: tablets of diethylcarbamazine citrate ( DEC ) and albendazole once a year for five years. But many of the 96 districts failed a treatment assessment survey by external evaluators.Another challenge is that the surveillance that identified the 256 endemic districts is now outdated. A fresh survey could push up the number of endemic districts to over 300. "Of the children included in the study, 80% showed no symptoms but over 40% showed damaged lymphatic system.

Source: Times of India November 16, 2017 23:54 UTC