Lessons from the Pacific programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: a case study of 5 countries

BACKGROUND Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is an important Neglected Tropical Disease, being a major cause of disability worldwide. The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis aims to eliminate LF as a public health problem by the year 2020, primarily through repeated Mass Drug Administration (MDA). The Pacific region programme commenced in 1999. By June 2007, five of the eleven countries classified as endemic had completed five MDA campaigns and post-MDA prevalence surveys to assess their progress. We review available programme data and discuss their implications for other LF elimination programs in developing countries. METHODS Reported MDA coverage and results from initial surveys and post-MDA surveys of LF using the immunochromatographic test (ICT) from these five Pacific Island countries (Tonga, Niue, Vanuatu, Samoa and Cook Islands) were analysed to provide an understanding of their quality and programme progress towards LF elimination. Denominator data reported by each country programme for 2001 was compared to official sources to assess the accuracy of MDA coverage data. RESULTS Initial survey results from these five countries revealed an ICT prevalence of between 2.7 and 8.6 percent in individuals tested prior to commencement of the programme. Country MDA coverage results varied depending on the source of denominator data. Of the five countries in this case study, three countries (Tonga, Niue and Vanuatu) reached the target prevalence of <1% antigenaemia following five rounds of MDA. However, endpoint data could not be reliably compared to baseline data as survey methodology varied. CONCLUSION Accurate and representative baseline and post-campaign prevalence data is crucial for determining program effectiveness and the factors contributing to effectiveness. This is emphasised by the findings of this case study. While three of the five Pacific countries reported achieving the target prevalence of <1% antigenaemia, limitations in the data preclude identification of key determinants of this achievement

Lessons from the Pacific programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: a case study of 5 countries

Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is an important Neglected Tropical Disease, being a major cause of disability worldwide. The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis aims to eliminate LF as a public health problem by the year 2020, primarily through repeated Mass Drug Administration (MDA). The Pacific region programme commenced in 1999. By June 2007, five of the eleven countries classified as endemic had completed five MDA campaigns and post-MDA prevalence surveys to assess their progress. We review available programme data and discuss their implications for other LF elimination programs in developing countries. Reported MDA coverage and results from initial surveys and post-MDA surveys of LF using the immunochromatographic test (ICT) from these five Pacific Island countries (Tonga, Niue, Vanuatu, Samoa and Cook Islands) were analysed to provide an understanding of their quality and programme progress towards LF elimination. Denominator data reported by each country programme for 2001 was compared to official sources to assess the accuracy of MDA coverage data. Initial survey results from these five countries revealed an ICT prevalence of between 2.7 and 8.6 percent in individuals tested prior to commencement of the programme. Country MDA coverage results varied depending on the source of denominator data. Of the five countries in this case study, three countries (Tonga, Niue and Vanuatu) reached the target prevalence of <1% antigenaemia following five rounds of MDA. However, endpoint data could not be reliably compared to baseline data as survey methodology varied. It was concluded that accurate and representative baseline and post-campaign prevalence data is crucial for determining program effectiveness and the factors contributing to effectiveness. This is emphasised by the findings of this case study. While three of the five Pacific countries reported achieving the target prevalence of <1% antigenaemia, limitations in the data preclude identification of key determinants of this achievement

Eliminating lymphatic filariasis: the surveillance challenge (editorial)

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an important neglected tropical disease. Although many LF infections are asymptomatic, the long-term sequelae of elephantiasis, lymphoedema and hydrocoele can have devastating physical, psychological, social and economic consequences for individuals and for communities where this disease is endemic (Ottesen et al. 1997; Wynd et al. 2007). LF is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and there are more than 119 million people infected (Michael et al. 1996). In 1997, WHO launched the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, which aims to eliminate LF from 80 countries in which it is endemic, by the year 2020. The primary strategy is to use mass drug administration (MDA), with a combination of two drugs, given annually to the entire ‘at-risk’ population (World Health Organization 2000). In the Pacific region, several countries had recently completed their planned number of rounds of MDA and now need to make important programmatic decisions. Perhaps the most important of these decisions relates to future surveillance needs

Encephalitis in Australia, 1979-2006: trends and aetiologies

The acute encephalitis syndrome has heralded the emergence of multiple virulent pathogens, including Murray Valley encephalitis, Hendra virus and Australian bat lyssavirus, which may result in severe morbidity and mortality. In Australia, encephalitis i

Encephalitis in Australia, 1979-2006: trends and aetiologies

The acute encephalitis syndrome has heralded the emergence of multiple virulent pathogens, including Murray Valley encephalitis, Hendra virus and Australian bat lyssavirus, which may result in severe morbidity and mortality. In Australia, encephalitis is not notifiable and there has been no analysis of trends in encephalitis death rates or causation. Australian Bureau of Statistics mortality and population data for the period 1979–2006 were obtained and cause of death data were extracted using ICD-9 (1979–1998) and ICD-10 (1999–2006) codes that included all relevant encephalitis related diagnoses. Encephalitis-associated deaths were analysed by cause, year, age and gender. Between 1979 and 2006 there were 1,118 encephalitis-associated deaths in Australia. The average annual death rate was 2.3 per 1 million population (range 1.3–3.6). There was a significant decline in encephalitis-associated deaths, particularly due to 'known' pathogens (4.3% decline per year, 95%CI 3.1–5.4%, P<0.0001). The aetiology of 576 deaths were unknown and the proportion of deaths due to 'unknown' encephalitis increased from 47.0% between 1979 and 1992, to 57.2% from 1993 to 2006. Downward trends in encephalitis deaths due to 'known' causes can largely be explained by changes in treatment and prevention methods, particularly for herpes encephalitis (use of acyclovir), and measles encephalitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (measles vaccination). The high proportion of encephalitis deaths from 'unknown' pathogens in Australia highlights the importance of monitoring encephalitis morbidity and mortality with a view to improving pathogen diagnosis and identifying emerging infectious diseases

A Norovirus outbreak associated with Oyster consumption in NSW and implications for public health.

Norovirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks associated with raw shellfish consumption. In Australia there have been several reports of norovirus outbreaks associated with oysters despite the application of regulatory measures recommended by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. This study describes an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis following the consumption of New South Wales oysters. In September 2007, OzFoodNet conducted a cohort study of a gastroenteritis outbreak amongst people that had dined at a Port Macquarie restaurant. Illness was strongly associated with oyster consumption, with all cases having eaten oysters from the same lease (RR undefined, p < 0.0001). Norovirus was detected in a faecal specimen. Although no pathogen was identified during the environmental investigation, the source oyster lease had been closed just prior to harvesting due to sewage contamination. Australian quality assurance programs do not routinely test oysters for viral contamination that pose a risk to human health. It is recommended that the feasibility of testing oysters for norovirus, particularly after known faecal contamination of oyster leases, be assessed

A protracted mumps outbreak in Western Australia despite high vaccine coverage: a population-based surveillance study

In 2007–08, a genotype J mumps outbreak occurred among Aboriginal people in northern Western Australia, despite high vaccine coverage. In March, 2015, a second protracted mumps outbreak occurred in northern Western Australia and spread widely across rural areas of the state. This time the outbreak was caused by a genotype G virus and again primarily affected Aboriginal people. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of this outbrea

Whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 links wastewater RNA to individual cases in catchments.

After a limited first wave of community transmission in March 2020, Western Australia has remained largely free of COVID-19, with cases restricted to hotel quarantine, commercial vessels, and small, infrequent community clusters. Despite so few cases, whole genome sequencing (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater of large municipal treatments plants yielded genomic coverage up to 98% with sufficient depth to link wastewater to the WGS sequences of active cases in the catchment at the time. WGS analysis of wastewater contemporaneous with clinical cases can also be used to rule out transmission between cases in different catchments, when their SARS-CoV-2 genomes differ. These findings reveal a greater potential of wastewater WGS to inform outbreak control and disease surveillance than previously recognized