Global Eradication of Lymphatic Filariasis: The Value of Chronic Disease Control in Parasite Elimination Programmes
Author Information
Author(s): Michael Edwin Malecela, Mwele N. Malecela, Mihail Zervos, James W. Kazura
Primary Institution: Imperial College London
Hypothesis
Can setting an infection target level for lymphatic filariasis lead to effective disease control and eventual eradication?
Conclusion
Setting a microfilaria prevalence target of below 3.55% can effectively control lymphatic filarial disease and is economically beneficial.
Supporting Evidence
- Microfilaria prevalences below 3.55% can control lymphatic filarial disease.
- High marginal costs occur when trying to cure the last few individuals.
- Adopting a flexible eradication strategy can be economically beneficial.
Takeaway
This study suggests that if we keep the number of infections low enough, we can control the disease without completely eliminating it right away.
Methodology
The study used community data analysis, mathematical modeling, and economic analysis to evaluate infection thresholds for disease control.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to the limited geographic scope of the data used for analysis.
Limitations
The analysis was limited to data from Sub-Saharan Africa and India, which may not represent all endemic regions.
Participant Demographics
Data was compiled from 76 communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and India.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% confidence limits: 2.35–4.75
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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