Study on the elimination of lymphatic filiariasis in Shandong Province.

Objective To evaluate the results of control measures for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Shandong Province. Methods 1.epidemiological survey; 2. taking elinination of source of infection as the main measures; 3.control of mosquito vector; 4.assessment of control reults. 5.detection of source of infection, repeated detection and treatment of residual microfilaremias (mf), cross-sectional and longitudinal serological detection of pathogen and vector, survey of filarial transmission threshold in target poplations at late stage of control; 6.survey and tratment of chronic filariasis patient. Results 1.the average microfilaremia rate, mosquito vector natural infection rate and the incidence of chronic filariasis in ealry 1950s were 7.1%,19.42% and 10.9% respectively; 2. the average microfilaremia rate dropped to less than 1% taeking the village as unit 22 years after control, to have firstly reached the criteria of basic elimination of fialariasis enacted by Ministry of Health in this country in 1983; 3. After basic elimination of filariasis efforts in control and surveillance were made and average microfilaremia rate further dropped from 0.13% in th first year of eliniamtion to zero; 4.The average microfilaremia rate in target population dropped from 0.06% 9 years after elimiantion to zero 10 years after elimination; 5. the natural infection rate in vector mosquitoes reduced from 0.14% in the first year of surveillance to zero 10 years after surveillance; 6.the annual transmission potential of bed net users and those sleep outdoors reduced from 0.94 and 3.47 in the first year of observation to zero in the 10th year of study; 7. filarial incidence reduced from 10.9% in 1957 before control to 0.31% in 1986, 28 years after control with various meausres for treatment of chonic filarial patients including the research for effective herbal medicine. Conclusion Shandong Province has been attained the criteria of elmination of filariasis enacted by Ministry of Health afte assessed by National Expert Group for Assessment of Elimination of Filariasis.