More than 45 million people at risk for LF in Act | West supported countries as of FY21 (SAR1 FY22)

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a debilitating disease caused by parasitic worms that affect the human lymphatic system and can lead to severe swelling of the lower limbs (elephantiasis) and scrotum (hydrocele). Transmitted by mosquitoes that transfer the worm parasites from person to person through their bites, LF is a leading cause of disability globally.1 Act | West supports elimination of LF by providing funding and technical support to national ministries of health to implement interventions recommended by the WHO, including annual mass treatment with medicines that treat the disease and stop transmission of the parasite, and surveys to assess treatment impact. Act | West also supports countries to document success through the WHO dossier process for validation of elimination of LF as a public health problem. 

More than 91 million have been treated for LF with USAID funding since FY12

LF is considered a public health problem in 702 districts in 11 countries that receive support from Act | West.2 After mass treatment, LF prevalence has been reduced to levels that make the risk of transmission unlikely in 73% of these districts (510). Although post-treatment surveillance is ongoing, it’s reasonable to say that over 105 million people living in these districts are no longer at risk of LF infection, elephantiasis and hydrocele.

More than 105 million people- 70% of those ever at risk- are no longer at risk for lymphatic filariasis in Act | West supported countries as of FY21
73% of health districts in Act | West 11 countries have succeeded in stopping annual mass lymphatic filariasis treatments as of FY21

Act | West continues to support annual treatment in approximately 192 districts across 8 countries.3 Over 62% of the affected districts are in post-treatment surveillance in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, and Niger; and over 99% are in post-treatment surveillance in Cameroon (99%) and Benin (100%). In addition, since FY19, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea have conducted the pre-transmission assessment survey in 79 districts and 2 districts, respectively, to determine whether they could progress to a stop-MDA survey (TAS1).

Progress toward LF Elimination riase steadily between FY12 to FY22
  1. Weekly Epidemiological Record No 41, 2019, 94, 457-472. 11 October 2019, World Health Organization
  2. LF is present in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The World Health Organization validated elimination of LF as public health problem in Togo in 2017.
  3. The number of districts that receive Act | West support varies from year to year. 
Lymphatic Filariasis Lifecycle Diagram

Lymphatic Filariasis lifecycle diagram

View Diagram >