West Bengal conducts filariasis drug drive in 10 districts, targets elimination by 2030
Kolkata The West Bengal Health Department has started a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) drive against filariasis (commonly known as elephantiasis or hathipaon) and aims to
Kolkata The West Bengal Health Department has started a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) drive against filariasis (commonly known as elephantiasis or hathipaon) and aims to eliminate the disease in the State by 2030. “The Centre’s policy (on the disease) is now the State’s policy, and I urge everyone, from ASHA workers to State health officials, to work hand-in-hand, adhering to national guidelines, for the success of the MDA campaign. Public awareness is paramount to the programme,” Health Minister Dr. Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay said, launching the event at Howrah district in June. According to health officials, there is no feasible way to detect filariasis at a mass level, as infected persons do not show symptoms for at least six to eight years in spite of being capable of transmitting infection through mosquito bites. There are no treatments available for the disease throughout the world, even though the effects are lifelong, they said, adding that prevention is the best cure.
“An infected person usually does not show symptoms for at least six to eight years, making detection hard. Moreover, the diagnostic test can only be conducted after 10 p.m.,” a health official said. Confidence-building measure Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Sumana Sarkar, Principal Secretary (Health) Narayan Swaroop Nigam, and Director of Health Services Dr. Swapan Saren were also present at the launch. As a confidence-building measure, the health officials and other department officials consumed the anti-filarial medicines at the programme. Other guests followed suit to raise awareness about the mass drug administration process. “There are no side effects of the medicines. But, it is hard to convince people to consume them because of the stigma associated with consuming a drug even though they do not have symptoms. However, some people may feel dizzy for about an hour after they consume the drug.
This simply means that they were infected without showing any symptoms,” Dr. Pritam Roy, Neglected Tropical Diseases Coordinator at the World Health Organisation, told The Hindu. According to government data, as of 2026, there are 30,371 patients suffering from lymphoedema and 5,804 from hydrocele due to filariasis in West Bengal. The State conducted 2,370 hydrocele surgeries in 2025. The officials said the drive must achieve a minimum of 85% coverage of the eligible population for the drug treatment to be successful. “Everyone should take the preventive medicines during the MDA drive. This will halt the transmission of the disease. Additionally, it will help treat worm infestations in children,” an official statement said. Under the MDA programme, the Health Department administers two medicines—Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole—free of cost. The campaign covers 59 identified blocks and municipalities in Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Uttar Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura, and Howrah, where active transmission of the disease continues.
The BriefWire