title: Introduction of an integrated community-based bancroftian filariasis control program into the Mt Bosavi region of the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea.
abstract: In mid-1987 a baseline microfilarial prevalence survey was conducted among five villages in the Mt Bosavi region of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Through use of the Nucleopore filtration technique, it was determined that 48% of villagers had detectable microfilaraemia. The highest prevalence was documented in Fogomaiyu, where the microfilaraemia rate was 92%. On the basis of this initial survey and the expressed interest of the community, the Division of Health in the Southern Highlands Province undertook an integrated community-based pilot control program. The project used two principal control methods: (a) drug treatment with low-dose diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) distributed to the community weekly and (b) vector control with permethrin-impregnated bednets. Results six months after the intervention indicate that the program was successful in reducing microfilaraemia at Fogomaiyu village from 92% to 6%. The reduction is principally related to the effects of DEC, although the bednets, by limiting vector-person contact, are expected to reduce the incidence of both filariasis and malaria.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health, Mendi and Fogomaiyu, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prybylski
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Alto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mengeap
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odaibaiyue
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D002648:Child; D003256:Community Participation; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti
chemical_list: D004049:Diethylcarbamazine