A great success in lymphatic filariasis control in China. National Technical Steering Group for Filariasis Control and Research, MOPH.

Lymphatic filariasis control was first included in national program in 1956. Since then, a large scale anti-filariasis campaign has been carried out extensively throughout the endemic areas. From 1956-1994, a cumulative total of 707,421,736 person-time were comprised in nationwide blood examination, and a total of 260,041,645 person-time DEC chemotherapy were conducted (including selective treatment, mass chemotherapy and DEC-fortified salt). Up to 1994, all of the 864 endemic counties/cities in 15 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities had achieved effective control of filariasis successively. Parasitological, entomological and serological surveillance during the past few years demonstrated that the transmission of both bancroftian and malayan filariasis have been virtually interrupted in most of the areas reaching the criterion for effective control of filariasis.