Lymphatic filariasis in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: current status and prospects for elimination.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) represents a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The disease is endemic or suspected in several countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Recent advances in diagnosis and therapy led the World Health Assembly to pass a resolution in 1997 calling for "the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem." The elimination strategy is based on rounds of mass drug administration of an annual single-dose of combined drug regimens for 5-6 consecutive years. Subsequent steps included formation of a Regional Programme Review Group to orient national LF control programmes towards the concept of elimination, provide advice, review each national plan of action and review annual reports. To date, Egypt and the Republic of Yemen have active national LF elimination programmes, however, elimination activities in the Republic of Yemen are still restricted to certain identified endemic regions. Other countries in the Region are on their way to verifying the situation and if LF is proved to be endemic, will start mapping endemic localities. This review sheds light on the status of LF elimination activities in the Region and highlights some of the major accomplishments.