Shrinking the lymphatic filariasis map of Zimbabwe: Reassessing the population requiring treatment through confirmatory mapping

Shrinking the lymphatic filariasis map of Zimbabwe: Reassessing the population requiring treatment through confirmatory mapping

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Objectives: Zimbabwe is endemic for lymphatic filariasis (LF) with 39 districts identified for mass drug administration (MDA) in 2014.The objective of this study was to reassess the current population requiring MDA.Methods: The LF confirmatory mapping method was used to evaluate the prevalence of circulating filarial antigens among school-aged children (9-14 years) in previously endemic districts.This was achieved through a cross-sectional survey between 2021 and 2023, applying a cluster sampling approach across 39 districts, targeting 18,720 children to assess ongoing LF transmission.

Results: The findings revealed a significant decline in LF prevalence, with an overall rate of 0.43%.Importantly, 82.05% of districts previously simply southern cat shirt identified as endemic were reclassified as nonendemic.

Only seven districts retained endemic status, necessitating continued MDA using the triple-drug therapy regimen.Population estimates based on 2022 census data indicated that 1.19 million individuals across these districts require MDA, representing an 84.4% reduction compared to previous estimates.

Despite the progress, the persistence of low-level transmission in certain districts highlights the need for sustained surveillance and morbidity management services, including hydrocele surgery and lymphedema care.Conclusion: There was a significant reduction in the number of people requiring MDA.The decline in LF endemicity is attributed merlot redbud tree for sale to a combination of factors, including prior rounds of MDA and vector control initiatives including historical interventions, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane spraying against human African trypanosomiasis.