title: Can Lymphatic Filariasis Be Eliminated by 2020?
abstract: Interventions against neglected tropical diseases (NTD), including lymphatic filariasis (LF), scaled up dramatically after the signing of the London Declaration (LD) in 2012. LF is targeted for elimination by 2020, but some countries are considered not on track to meet the 2020 target using the recommended preventive chemotherapy and morbidity management strategies. In this Opinion article we review the prospects for achieving LF elimination by 2020 in the light of the renewed global action against NTDs and the global efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. We conclude that LF can be eliminated by 2020 using cross-sectoral and integrated approaches because of the compound effect of the other SDG activities related to poverty reduction and water and sanitation.
authors.affiliation: Neglected Tropical Diseases Support Center, Task Force for Global Health, 325 Swanton Way, Decatur, GA 30030, USA; Rey Juan Carlos University, Calle Tulipan, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rebollo
authors.affiliation: Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK; European and Develping Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: mbockarie@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Moses J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bockarie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060740:Disease Eradication; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012499:Sanitation / Q000592:standards; D014330:Tropical Medicine / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents