Lymphatic Filariasis (Filaria)
Lymphatic Filariasis (Filaria) is a disease that spreads when a person with tiny worm-like parasites in their blood (called microfilariae) gets bitten by a mosquito. This specific type of mosquito can carry and transmit these parasites to others. These parasites grow and develop inside the mosquito. When the infected mosquito bites another person, it leaves behind these parasites on the person’s skin. If the parasites manage to enter the bite wound, they can cause an infection. To summarise, it is a cycle where mosquitoes pass on these tiny worms from one person to another, spreading the disease.
Situation in Maldives
WHO declared lymphatic filariasis (filaria) to be eliminated as a public health problem in Maldives in 2016. In December 2023 during a mass screening among migrant workers, positive cases were identified among individuals who migrated from lymphatic filariasis endemic country. Since then Health Protection Agency has currently conducting more screenings to see the rate of infection, conducting further screenings to determine the extent of infection among migrants and assess the risk of local transmission. So far no local cases of lymphatic filariasis (filaria) have been detected since the initial identification in migrants.
Signs and symptoms of lymphatic filariasis
Someone infected with lymphatic filariasis (filaria) may not show any symptoms for many years. When infected with the Filarial parasites, the Lymphatic system is slowly damaged. Over time, the lymphatics get blocked, and this can cause some people to have swollen limbs, breasts or genitals.Affected people can have frequent infections, causing them to have fever and other symptoms related to the infection.
Diagnosis and Treatment
There are two types of tests.
Examination of blood (taken between 8pm – 2am) under the microscope to identify the microscopic worms, called microfilariae.
Antigen test- using rapid test kits, this blood test can be done at any time of the day and give results within minutes
lymphatic filariasis (filaria) can be treated with a single dose of a combination of medicines. However, when someone has had the disease for a long time, and their lymphatic system has been damaged, the person may still have recurrent symptoms that need to be managed with medication and good hygiene, or in some cases, surgery.
Protect from mosquito bites
Lymphatic filariasis (filaria) is spread mostly by Culex mosquitoes. It is a mosquito that usually bites at night and breeds in water, usually dirty standing water. The best ways to protect yourself from lymphatic filariasis (filaria) are:
- Regularly inspect your home and garden to check for any standing water and eliminate them.
- Prevent mosquito bites- keep doors and windows closed at night, or use mosquito netting over windows, wear mosquito repellant or use mosquito repellent in room
Other Important information on filariasis
- lymphatic filariasis (filaria) is spread when mosquito bites repeatedly over many months to years is needed for infection to occur
- Since lymphatic filariasis (filaria) is not very easily transmitted, short-term travelers are at very low risk of infection. It takes repeated mosquito bites over several months to years to get infected with lymphatic filariasis (filaria)