Over the weekend a friend of mine shared an article on Elephantiasis and how it has affected 10% of the population in Kitwe (http://www.postzambia.com/news.php?id=8891.) It got me interested in how much people know about this disease and whether they know that it can be prevented. According to the World Health Organisation over 120 million people are infected, with about 40 million disfigured and incapacitated by the disease. That is a huge population to be affected by the this disease and even more concerning is that people are unaware of its dangers.
So what is Elephantiasis and how does one get the disease. Elephantiasis or Lymphatic filariasis is a disease that affects people in the tropics. This disease is transmitted to human beings from mosquitoes. You can get more information on this disease here http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs102/en/
Mosquitoes are infected with microfilariae by ingesting blood when biting an infected host. Microfilariae mature into infective larvae within the mosquito. When infected mosquitoes bite people, mature parasite larvae are deposited on the skin from where they can enter the body. The larvae then migrate to the lymphatic vessels where they develop into adult worms, thus continuing a cycle of transmission.
Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system and so one can have this for a long time without it showing. As such, the Zambian government is currently undertaking a massive administration exercise against elephantiasis to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to receive these drugs. These drugs will kill the worms in one’s body that could most likely cause the disease. Various districts are already undertaking this exercise. I would encourage you to visit your local government clinic to get more information and also obtain the drugs.
iaraf's musings 