Article
Parasitology
Hugo C. Turner, Eric A. Ottesen, Mark H. Bradley
Summary: This study indicates that significant health benefits have been achieved from the first 20 years of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF). It is important to note that the GPELF has additional benefits beyond what can be quantified by the DALY burden metric, and it also has benefits on other co-endemic diseases, making the overall health benefit underestimated.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Charles D. Mackenzie, Sunny Mante
Summary: LF is a debilitating and disfiguring medical condition with severe psychosocial consequences, and global efforts have been made in the past 20 years to provide care and surgical treatment for patients. However, challenges such as stigma, resource provision, and maintaining programme support have hindered the full implementation of patient care within GPELF.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eric A. Ottesen, John Horton
Summary: The development of the World Health Organization's Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) involved a multi-faceted approach, with a focus on health and economic factors, responsible individuals and organizations, as well as critical requirements and hurdles to successfully construct the program. The program was launched with the recognition of the potential for LF elimination by the global health community, supported by donations from pharmaceutical companies and resource support from public and private sectors and health ministries in endemic countries.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hugo C. Turner
Summary: The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis aims to eliminate the disease as a public health problem, with multiple studies showing that the mass drug administration (MDA) provided by the programme is cost-effective and generates significant economic benefits. While there are still gaps in research that need further exploration, overall, independent studies consistently estimate GPELF to be cost-effective and provide notable economic benefits.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kebede Deribe, Didier K. Bakajika, Honorat Marie-Gustave Zoure, John O. Gyapong, David H. Molyneux, Maria P. Rebollo
Summary: Significant progress has been made in the LF program in Africa. Challenges remain, but the region has achieved success in eliminating LF. The trajectory of coverage and treatment has accelerated, with increasing geographical coverage and efforts towards Africa free of LF.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Thirumal Sankari, Swaminathan Subramanian, Subhash L. Hoti, Subhada P. Pani, Purushothaman Jambulingam, Pradeep K. Das
Summary: The study found individual variations in response to DEC, with 65.2% of individuals showing no response in the 12-month post-treatment period. Treatment response was independent of age, gender, and time, with overall response increasing in low microfilariae density categories and decreasing in high density categories. Random coefficient estimates showed greater variability in response between individuals over time post-treatment. These results emphasize the importance of studying host genetic factors associated with DEC action.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
D. Ramaiah Kapa, Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed
Summary: The South-East Asia regional programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis has made significant progress, delivering 8.1 billion treatments in nine countries and eliminating LF in three countries. Bangladesh is on track to reach its elimination goal by 2021. The programme has prevented or cured 74.9 million infections and is moving towards achieving the elimination goal in the next 8-10 years.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Patrick J. Lammie, Katherine M. Gass, Jonathan King, Michael S. Deming, David G. Addiss, Gautam Biswas, Eric A. Ottesen, Ralph Henderson
Summary: The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) has achieved remarkable success in eliminating LF as a public health problem by implementing a rigorous monitoring and evaluation framework, modifying strategies based on practical experiences, and fostering strong partnerships among researchers, LF programme managers, and supportive donors.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julie Jacobson
Summary: This article discusses the accelerated development and introduction of a new drug therapy for lymphatic filariasis (LF) through collaboration between multiple partners. By condensing the development timeline and maintaining safety standards, the partners were able to significantly reduce the time it takes for a new innovation in public health to be introduced into national programs. The importance of stakeholder engagement, good communication, and prioritizing activities were highlighted in this process. This case provides insights into how global health can work together in new ways to accelerate interventions and strategies for promoting health and well-being.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tijana Williams, Rachel Taylor, Minne Iwamoto, Takayuki Hida, Fabian Gusovsky
Summary: The World Health Assembly Resolution committed to eliminating LF as a public health problem, leading to the creation of the GPELF in 2000. The GPELF strategy consists of stopping infection spread and alleviating suffering, with crucial contributions from pharmaceutical companies' medicine donations. As we celebrate progress towards LF elimination, continued commitments and perspectives on the next decade are emphasized.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Reda M. R. Ramzy, Abdul Samid Al Kubati
Summary: Over the past two decades, progress has been made in controlling and eliminating LF in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Egypt and Yemen have been successfully validated by WHO for LF elimination, with Sudan scaling up MDA efforts. The four suspected countries showed no signs of LF transmission, eliminating the need for MDA.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alison Krentel, Margaret Gyapong, Deborah A. McFarland, Olumide Ogundahunsi, Christiana R. Titaley, David G. Addiss
Summary: Since the launch of GPELF in 2000, over 910 million people have received preventive chemotherapy for lymphatic filariasis, but challenges moving forward towards 2030 include global demographic, financing, and programmatic changes. Further research and community partnership are needed to eliminate LF as a public health problem.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Gilberto Fontes, Eliana Maria Mauricio da Rocha, Ronaldo Guilherme Carvalho Scholte, Ruben Santiago Nicholls
Summary: In South and Central America, progress has been made in eliminating LF transmission, with countries like Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Haiti achieving important milestones such as stopping mass drug administration and interrupting transmission in certain endemic areas. Efforts should continue to improve morbidity management to prevent disabilities in affected populations.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Anastasia Pantelias, Jonathan D. King, Patrick Lammie, Gary J. Weil
Summary: This paper discusses the importance of having appropriate tools for disease mapping, monitoring, and surveillance when aiming to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) globally. Through the study of the development story of the Filarial Test Strip (FTS), it summarizes the role of a multi-stakeholder, public-private partnership model and the lessons learned from the successes and challenges during the development and adoption of new monitoring and surveillance tools.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
K. Dieter Klaes, Jorg Ackermann, Craig Anderson, Yago Andres, Thomas August, Regis Borde, Bojan Bojkov, Leonid Butenko, Alessandra Cacciari, Dorothee Coppens, Marc Crapeau, Stephanie Guedj, Olivier Hautecoeur, Tim Hultberg, Rudiger Lang, Stefanie Linow, Christian Marquardt, Rosemarie Munro, Carlo Pettirossi, Gabriele Poli, Francesca Ticconi, Olivier Vandermarcq, Mayte Vasquez, Margarita Vazquez-Navarro
Summary: After successfully launching and commissioning Metop-C in November 2018, all three satellites of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) are now in orbit and operational, providing support for operational meteorology and climate monitoring. The system, developed in collaboration with partners, has demonstrated enhanced reliability and generated results beyond expectations over a 20+ year period. Multiple satellites in orbit have enabled the production of additional products with increased impact, such as atmospheric motion vector products and improved atmospheric soundings.
BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2021)