Gov't in India's Uttar Pradesh launches immunisation campaign against filariasis

Source: Xinhua| 2019-11-25 17:52:46|Editor: mingmei
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NEW DELHI, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Monday launched a massive immunisation campaign against filariasis, officials said.

According to local government officials under this campaign, more than 65,000 teams of health workers will distribute medicines to around 65 million people in the state's 19 districts until Dec. 10.

The campaign was launched by Uttar Pradesh health and family welfare minister Jai Pratap Singh.

"Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a painful and serious kind of disease that spreads with mosquito bites. The disease poses danger for everyone especially children who live in the filariasis affected districts," Singh said. "The medicines are safe and it is important that all people should be covered in this program in the affected areas."

According to officials, there are over 125,000 cases of filariasis in the affected 19 districts of the state.

Singh said of the 19 districts of Uttar Pradesh, 11 districts have been chosen for triple-drug therapy, while as in the remaining eight districts double-drug therapy would be carried out.

India's federal government has set a deadline of 2021 for complete eradication of filaria in the country.

Reports said about 450,000 people are suffering from filariasis in India and about 65 million are at risk of the disease.

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