lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) spreading across Goa

GoanCanuck

Drug administration drive to counter elephantiasis
BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 13 – A mass drug administration (MDA) programme is all set to counter ‘lymphatic filariasis’ commonly known as ‘elephantiasis’ after the government of India declared the two districts of Goa as endemic to the mosquito borne parasitic disease.
Till May 2005, as many as 160 full blown cases of the disease were identified and fear of the number increasing has put the State’s administration on its toes.

The North Goa district administration headed by the Collector, Nikhil Kumar (IAS) today announced the mass drug administration programme starting from November 11, 2005 — National Filaria Day and will continue till November 13 — wherein Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) tablets will be provided to all persons.

The drug is to be consumed annually for a period of five years to eliminate the disease and curb the increasing number of carriers.
http://oheraldo.in/node/5369

Wanderer22

Saw posters in Arambol warning about this disease. Another nasty one to add to the list of mosquito borne illness, right after malaria and denge fever. Here in Canada West Nile fever is slowly spreading via mosquitos. Anyone know if it's in India yet? Sure lots of reasons to use repellent and nets.

W22

kohinoor

I see...

Thank you very much for warning.

Do you happen to know which are those two districts of Goa?

How should tourists, especially long term, be prepared for this?
Any safe preventionmedicines?
I've never heard a doctor mentioning about this disease or it's medicines.
I shall give then some feedback the next time I see them.

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Bifter

How would this effect someone going to Goa (other than the obvious ). Do I need to take any medication prior to arrival?

Thanks

Casey

I don't think a short-term tourist or someone passing throught the area are at risk.

"Many mosquito bites over several months to years are needed to get lymphatic filariasis. People living for a long time in tropical or sub-tropical areas where the disease is common are at the greatest risk for infection. Short-term tourists have a very low risk. An infection will show up on a blood test."

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/default.htm

As always, asking a professional would probably be the best bet to help anyone worried about any sort of medical issues. I wouldn't recommend any hypocondriacts to peruse this websites...

kohinoor

Does it include all foreigners there present at that time?

GoanCanuck

You need to get the vaccination before leaving for Goa or get it immediately iafter arriving in Goa. The vacccination is provided free of cost from the Goa government health centres.

GoanCanuck

There are only two districts in the whole of Goa. So obviously the entire state is affected.

kohinoor

North and South?

To me district means the same as area.
So I guess I need to study my dictionary in order to make sense to this statement

Anders

Correct The districts are north and south Goa.

kohinoor

According to LP, there is also Central Goa.
And then there is the Old Goa.

kohinoor

But, there is no vaccination for this

http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/u...la riasis.htm

GoanCanuck

Those are specific areas not districts. In Goa there are only two districts,

1) North Goa which is administered from Panjim(Panaji)
2) South Goa which is administered from Margao(Madgaon)


The vaccination is in the form of tablets.

Vasko

I just heard from a friend who spent about 5 months in India last year (mostly in Gokarna) that he's got filariasis: nuts swollen and everything ! Shit, does anyone know if this thing is completely curable???

goangoangone

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs102/en/
Sounds unlucky. Sure it's not mumps?
For anyone else coming out here, the tablets are obtainable very cheap in any pharmacist. I think the dose is 2 a year or something. This disease could easily (read cheaply) be irradicated.

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