Leadership (Abuja)
7 July 2008
Abuja — The Delta Primary Health Care Development Agency has said that a survey carried out in some local government areas of the state has confirmed the presence of limphatic filariasis disease.
The disease, which is also called Elephantiasis, is caused by insect bites, particularly mosquitoes and sandfly, and it makes the legs or other affected areas to be enlarged far beyond the normal size.
The mosquito bites transmit filariasis worms into the blood stream and begins to settle in parts of the body, Dr Ndudi Okocha, project officer of the agency told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba.
He also said that a survey carried out two months ago showed that the disease existed in nine local government areas of Delta.
Okocha said the local government areas were Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Ika North, Ika North East, Aniocha South, Ukwani, Oshimili South and Isoko North.
He said that physical examination was also carried out in some selected villages as part of the confirmation test.
Okocha said that based on the result of the survey, that a scientific survey would commence this week "to enable us determine the level of prevalence of the disease in the state".
He said that the agency, in conjunction with the Carter Centre and Global 2000 had concluded plans to commence the scientific survey, which could cover other local government areas.
Okocha said that five laboratory scientists and five health officers would be trained from the local government councils to handle the programme.
He said that the marking of the affected areas would start soon, after which drugs would be distributed to affected communities.
"Drugs for the treatment of the disease are already available. It will be the Tripple Drug Administration (TDA) formula.
"The drugs Metizan, Praziquanted and Ambendzor were provided by donor agencies free of charge," he said.
He said that the administration of the three drugs was capable of eliminating the virus and any other related disease. (NAN)
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