"It's tied in with grinding poverty — where you find it maps almost perfectly with the poorest of the poor.“ - Reverend Thomas G. Streit

 Parasitic filarial roundworms W. bancrofti and B. malayi W. bancrofti B. malayi

Home sweet home…

No, not by a vampire!!!

Infected human (definitive host)  mosquito (intermediate host)  human *Takes multiple mosquito bites to contract the disease

 70% of infected people are asymptomatic  A small percentage develop: › Lymphedema › Elephantiasis › Hydrocele  in men only

 Blood smear  X rays to detect dead worms  Ultrasonography  PCR

 Combination therapy › Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) › Albendazole › Ivermectin DEC Ivermectin

 Thorough hygiene  Compression clothing, exercises, and elevation

 Substantial loss of income  Social stigmas  Increase in mosquitoes "Lymphatic Filariasis is a forgotten disease of forgotten people. - Dr. Frank O. Richards Jr., Director, Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program

 Mass treatment programs  Mosquito nets  Community education

 The Carter Center  Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  Haiti and Dominican Republic