March 2023: Nepal on February 23 kicked off an MDA against lymphatic filariasis (LF) in 15 districts

Nepal on February 23 kicked off an MDA against lymphatic filariasis (LF) in 15 districts where the disease is endemic, targeting people over age 2 with diethylcarbamazine, albendazole, and ivermectin. The two-week effort saw health workers and community volunteers administer the drugs door to door. Of the 15 districts, four in Madhesh province (Dhanusha, Mahottari, Rautahat and Sarlahi) were resuming campaigns that failed a transmission assessment survey. The other districts include Baglung, Banke, Bara, Dang, Jhapa, Kailali, Kapilvastu, Lamjung, Morang, Parbat and Rasuwa. The 15 districts are part of an MDA campaign that initially started in 2003 with 63 districts, 48 of which have since eliminated the disease. While the Nepalese government originally aimed to eliminate LF by 2028, it has extended the deadline to 2030. The Kathmandu Post