Brazil has achieved a milestone in the elimination of lymphatic Filariasis

The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Brazil on eliminating lymphatic Filariasis as a public health problem.

Ending disease is a momentous achievement that requires unwavering commitment. I congratulate Brazil on its efforts to free its nation from the scourge of this painful, disfiguring, disfiguring and stigmatizing disease. This is another example of the incredible progress we have made in the fight against neglected tropical diseases, and gives hope to the many other nations still struggling with lymphatic Filariasis that they too can eliminate this disease.”

Dr AS Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO

Lymphatic Filariasis, commonly known as Elephantosis, is a devastating parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. For centuries, the disease has affected millions of people around the world, causing pain, chronic severe swelling, stern disability and social stigmatization.

Effective investments at the country level

Over the past few decades, Brazil has implemented integrated actions to eliminate lymphatic Filariasis, including the development of a national plan to eradicate the disease in 1997, the mass distribution of antiparasitic drugs, vector control activities, and close surveillance, especially in the most affected areas. Thanks to these efforts, disease transmission ended in the country in 2017.

Eliminating lymphatic Filariasis was also one of the goals of the Brasil Saudável program, a multi-sectoral initiative to end socially determined diseases with a whole-of-government approach and the participation of civil society, including by involving affected people in the implementation of disease control efforts. The program was launched in February 2024 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a ceremony attended by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, and Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas. In the post-elimination phase, Brazil, PAHO and WHO will continue to monitor closely for a possible resurgence in infections.

“This milestone is the result of years of dedication, demanding work and collaboration among health care professionals, researchers and authorities in Brazil,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO and WHO regional director for the Americas. “Brazil’s extensive and standardized health care system, combined with stalwart laboratory expertise and stalwart surveillance, were crucial to breaking the chain of transmission, inspiring other countries to make progress toward eliminating lymphatic Filariasis and other neglected tropical diseases.”

Global progress

Globally, Brazil joins 19 other countries and territories that have been approved by the WHO to eliminate lymphatic Filariasis as a public health problem. These are Malawi and Togo in the African region; Egypt and Yemen in the Eastern Mediterranean; Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand in the Southeast Asian region; and Cambodia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Wallis and Futuna in the Western Pacific region.

In the Americas, three endemic countries (Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Haiti) continue to require mass drug administration to stop transmission and are working toward their elimination goal.

Except it’s the 20th^vol country to be approved for the elimination of lymphatic Filariasis as a public health problem, Brazil was also ranked 53rd^rd national eradication of at least one neglected tropical disease worldwide.