Monica E Townsend¹, Martin S Forde, ScD¹, Shamdeo Persaud, MD², and Calum Macpherson, PhD³. (1) Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, St. George's University, 1 East Main Street, Bay Shore, NY 11706, (473) 444-4175, mforde@sgu.edu, (2) Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program, Ministry of Health, Georgetown, Georgetown, Guyana, (3) Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation, St. George's University, P.O. Box 7, St. George's, Grenada

Guyana in South America is one of three countries in the Western Hemisphere where lymphatic filariasis (LF) is classified as being endemic. In 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a commitment toward a universal goal of eliminating LF by the year 2020. In 1999, the WHO assisted Guyana in establishing the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program. A major program goal was to rapidly map LF infection rates in all regions of Guyana using the WHO approved immunochromatographic card test (ICT) method. In 2001, of the two sentinel sites identified, data were collected from one. A total of 246 study participants were tested using two diagnostic methods: microfilaria blood smears (MBS) and ICT cards. The prevalence of LF in the sentinel site was 19% (MBS) and 27% (ICT). These findings indicate that a significant proportion of the Guyanese population is at risk of succumbing to the most severe clinical outcomes of LF infection and provide added justification of the current efforts of the WHO and the Guyanese government in trying to eradicate this debilitating and disfiguring disease from this South American country. The sentinel baseline data also provides a key method of monitoring changes in the prevalence of LF following the introduction of control measures. In Guyana these include the introduction of DEC fortified salt to interrupt transmission of the parasite and morbidity control.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants in this session will be able to

• Assess the scope of lymphatic filariasis infection in Guyana;
• Evaluate the role of the Guyanese government, as well as other important NGOs, in the eradication of this disease; and
• Construct similar invention programs in other countries using lessons learnt from this intervention project

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Community-Based Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.