{"id":60036004,"date":"2024-06-07T12:37:10","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T11:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/?p=60036004"},"modified":"2024-06-07T13:41:19","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T12:41:19","slug":"climate-change-and-lack-of-data-are-hobbling-indias-fight-against-elephantiasis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/climate\/climate-change-and-lack-of-data-are-hobbling-indias-fight-against-elephantiasis\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate change and lack of data are hobbling India\u2019s fight against elephantiasis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

India aims to eliminate lymphatic filariasis<\/a> \u2013 a painful, disfiguring disease commonly referred to as elephantiasis \u2013  by 2027 and join several other countries which successfully eradicated it as a public health issue<\/a>. Complicating India\u2019s plans, though, a new WHO study<\/a> says climate change may lead to new behaviour patterns, and could trigger the disease spread through new vectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lymphatic filariasis is characterised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of many neglected tropical diseases<\/a>. It is caused by parasitic worms passed through mosquito bites and affects millions of people in tropical and subtropical areas. India accounts for 40% of the global human lymphatic filariasis burden, with 31 million people<\/a> infected, and over 450 million are at risk. Unfortunately, a paucity of data on what is happening limits how effectively it can be eradicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martin Walker, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College said that as \u201ca neglected tropical disease, [lymphatic filariasis] lacks adequate attention. Creating a disease repository is crucial to deepen our knowledge of lymphatic filariasis and support research efforts.\u201d A disease repository, such as the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory<\/a>, allows researchers to pool together data and explore new challenges, as well as come up with solutions together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A long campaign, and a new risk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The principal strategy adopted in India to fight the disease has been mass drug awareness campaigns at the rural and local level. Akhila Sivadas, executive director at Centre for Advocacy and Research, said individuals who do not have lymphatic filariasis were uncertain about the importance and safety of taking medication when approached by Accredited Social Health Activists \u2013 community health workers employed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe started a campaign which led us to come up with the concept of involving the community directly in the mass drug administration programme, with patients taking the lead,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme showed that in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, over 14,177 LF patients have joined the Filaria Patient Network, with women comprising 7,821 patients compared to 6,356 men. This collective effort is underway across 21 districts in UP and Bihar, and is set to expand to 17 additional districts in both states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vector borne diseases have a strong link with climatic factors like rainfall, temperature, and humidity<\/blockquote>Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology<\/cite><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This success is now being challenged by both climate change, and a lack of knowledge of how the disease is spreading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21-year-old Rupa Saha (name changed) from Falakata in West Bengal was diagnosed with lymphatic filariasis during a night sample test. Species that cause lymphatic filariasis have microfilarial levels that tend to peak at night, so it is recommended to collect samples between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am. Saha had never heard about lymphatic filariasis before and had no idea how she got it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is the first time our village has submitted blood samples for a test. I have never heard of filaria in Falakata. It only started in September 2023,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n