Status of lymphatic filariasis in parts of east Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) commonly known as elephantiasis is considered as a major public health problem due to its considerable morbidity and social stigma. National health policy 2002 aims at elimination of transmission and the prevention of disability due to LF by the year 20151. Sixteen out of twenty three districts of Andhra Pradesh, India are under the grip of LF and 54 million population of the state is under “Mass drug administration” (MDA) programme with annual single dose of diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) tablets once a year1. East Godavari district is one of the worst LF affected districts in Andhra Pradesh. As per the Government of Andhra Pradesh report a total of six rounds of MDA programme were conducted between 1999 and 2005 covering approximately five million population2. Therefore, night blood surveys and partial entomological surveys were conducted in two MF endemic towns and six endemic villages between January to May 2004 and again July to November 2005 to note the recent prevalence (mf) and disease incidence in the district.