Background

Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people worldwide and impacts mental, physical, and socioeconomic health globally. India carries a significant portion of this burden, with cases endemic in 21 states and union territories. The Government of India had a nationwide Mass Drug Administration/IDA (triple drug therapy) across various districts, which includes Varanasi, as part of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis.

Objective

This study aims to assess administration, transmission, and intervention outcomes in the Varanasi district from the years 2019 to 2025. This comprises MDA/IDA coverage for the duration from 2019 to 2021 and was evaluated for its impact on LF transmission through night blood surveys and Transmission Assessment Surveys conducted in 2022. The coverage of MDA/IDA was recorded, and administration and evaluation were repeated in regions with more than 1% Mf rate.

Results

Mf rates were observed to have decreased in sentinel sites from 0.94% to 0.15% and in spot check sites from 0.46% to 0.10% from 2019 to 2021. The TAS conducted in 2022 with 19,852 eligible participants revealed an overall Mf rate of 0.1%. After the successful completion and evaluation of TAS, areas like Jaitpura (urban) and Cholapur (rural) exhibited Mf rates greater than 1% and thus continued MDA/IDA for two more years. By 2025, the prevalence of Mf in both regions was less than 1%, signifying a prolonged cessation of transmission.

Conclusion

This study shows that the MDA/IDA successfully lowered LF transmission in areas with high infection rates in the Varanasi district, but ongoing monitoring and strategic interventions are still needed to reach and maintain LF elimination goals through 2027.