RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh will launch Filaria Eradication programme from August 10 targeting 23 development blocks of 7 filaria affected districts of state.

A target has been set to eradicate filarial by 2027 at central and state level.

67 lakh population of 23 development blocks of 7 Filaria affected districts (Durg, Balod, Bemetara, Janjgir Champa, Sakti, Mahasamund, Mungeli) of the state will be given Filaria vaccine. It will be for free.

Director Epidemic Control, Dr. Subhash Mishra interacting with media said mass drug intake activity is being organized as part of filarial eradication programme. The disease spread by the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. Once swelling occurs in the body parts, no treatment or operation is successful.

He said the disease is identified by swelling, so prevention is the only treatment. It occurs in any age group, damages the lymphatic system and if not prevented, it causes abnormal swelling in the body parts.

He adds people suffering from chronic diseases such as hydrocele (swelling of the scrotum), lymphedema (swelling of organs) and chyluria (milky white urine) due to filariasis often have to bear the burden of social ostracism. It also affects their livelihood and ability to work.

The mass drug intake programme is a door-to-door campaign. These medicines are completely safe but should not be taken in an empty stomach. Anti-filarial drugs should not be given to children below 2 years of age, pregnant women and very seriously ill persons, he said.

During the discussion Dr. Nupur Roy, Additional Director, National Center for Vector Borne Disease Control, Government of India said the disease is spread across 328 districts in 16 states and 5 union territories of the country. At present around 65 crore people in India are at risk of getting infected with this disease.

State Nodal Officer, Filaria Dr. GJ Rao said anti-filarial medicines are completely safe even for people suffering from blood pressure, sugar, arthritis or other common diseases. If there are symptoms like vomiting, dizziness, itching or nausea, then it is a symbol of the fact that filarial parasites are present in that person's body, which appear after the death of those parasites after eating the medicines.