Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program – In the News

May 12, 2022
COVID-19 Nasal Spray Could Transform Medicine Delivery, Treatment (Video)
Published by Voice of America-TV.
A promising antiviral delivery system developed at Northwestern University in Illinois could mean a "game changer" in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infections. For several decades, Kelly Callahan has worked for the carter Center's global nonprofit, which provides treatment and medication to people suffering from neglected tropical diseases in some of the most remote and warm places on the planet. It is the need to continue reaching those remote and isolated places, where Callahan works, that has motivated a group of professionals at Northwestern University in Illinois, to embark on a project to develop a vaccine against COVID-19 in nasal spray. The project could usher in a milestone that revolutionizes the prevention and treatment of infections with the virus, its developers told VOA.v En Español »

March 7, 2021
Abu Dhabi Institute to Help Eradicate River Blindness From the Americas
Published by National News UAE.
Indigenous people living in remote rainforests will be targeted in a new drive to eliminate river blindness from the Americas. The campaign has been funded thanks to a partnership between The Carter Center and Abu Dhabi’s Global Institute for Disease Elimination (Glide), an initiative organized by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

March 2, 2021
The Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases
Published by MSN.
Despite having been eradicated in the West, poorer regions around the world still suffer from neglected tropical diseases. The Carter Center is leading the way as it tries to find a cure to combat the afflictions that keep communities in poverty.

Dec. 17, 2020
Carter Center Neglected Tropical Disease Programs Adapt And Overcome Amid Pandemic
Published by Georgia Global Health Alliance.
The COVID-19 pandemic has harmed patients, families, and economies, and even societies and political systems. It has pushed health care providers to the breaking point and brought many public health interventions to a heart-rending halt. Nevertheless, The Carter Center has persevered in our primary mission through resilience and adaptation characteristic of our founders, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn.

Dec. 17, 2020
The Carter Center Addresses Mental Health During COVID-19 Pandemic
Published by Georgia Global Health Alliance.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and substance abuse among populations worldwide. Meanwhile, critical mental health and disability services have been disrupted. Recognizing that the need for mental health and substance use management will grow during and after the pandemic, the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program is pushing for mental health to be part of COVID-19 responses everywhere and is applying a COVID-19 lens across its work to strengthen behavioral health services and integrate mental health and substance use management into key health and development priorities.

Feb. 3, 2020
How to Prevent Two of the World's Worst Diseases for Less than the Price of a Can of Cola
Published by National News UAE.
It is less than the price of a can of soda, but a Dh2 donation can fight diseases that cause blindness and misery among some of the world's poorest communities. That is the message of a campaign launched on Monday that calls on everyone to play their part in preventing and eradicating illnesses that afflict around 200 million people.

May 9, 2018
New Initiative Will Drive Atlanta’s Reputation as the Center for Global Health
Published by Global Health ATL.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Global Health Alliance and Deloitte announced the launch of Global Health ATL. The initiative’s priorities are to create a health innovation hub in the heart of metro Atlanta and drive impact in areas such as disease eradication, economic development and disaster response.

April 11, 2018
Nasarawa State Free from Lymphatic Filariasis
Published by PM News (Nigeria).
The Nasarawa State Government and Carter Center, an NGO, have confirmed that lymphatic filariasis and trachoma, both of which are Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), have been eliminated from the state.

Nov. 28, 2017
How Plateau, Nasarawa States Eliminated Lymphatic Filariasis
Published by Vanguard (Nigeria).
The success against the disorder in Plateau and Nasarawa states is the result of a long-term relationship between the federal government of Nigeria and The Carter Center.

Nov. 27, 2017
The Deep-Pocketed Donors Behind the Latest Push Against Neglected Tropical Diseases
Published by Inside Philanthropy.
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have been getting increased attention from philanthropy in recent years—including a new $100 million fund that was just announced—and that's a good thing.

Oct. 24, 2017
WATCH: What Life Is Like With The Disfiguring Disease Elephantiasis
Published by Huffington Post.
“Out of Sight” is a series of 360-degree videos telling the stories of the victims and health workers battling neglected tropical diseases. This video takes place in Nigeria and features people describing their struggles with lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause extreme swelling of body parts.

Oct. 20, 2017
Nigerian Women With This Disfiguring Disease Face Pain And Isolation
Published by Huffington Post.
The devastating symptoms of lymphatic filariasis cause emotional pain, social stigma, and disrupted relationships.

Oct. 18, 2017
Lymphatic Filariasis in Nigeria: The Battle Against the Disfiguring Parasitic Disease
Published by Outbreak News Today.
Gregory Noland, epidemiologist for health programs with the Carter Center, discusses lymphatic filariasis, the partners and the work that went into the elimination of the disease as a public health problem in two states in Nigeria.

Oct. 13, 2017
2 Nigerian States Eliminate Elephantiasis, Carter Center Says
Published by Voice of America.
The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization run by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, said Friday that it had helped eliminate elephantiasis, a disfiguring tropical disease, from two states in Nigeria where the problem was at its worst.

Oct. 1, 2017
Former President Jimmy Carter Chosen as 2017 Prix Galien Pro Bono Humanum Honoree
Published by PR Newswire.
The Galien Awards Committee announced today that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will receive the 2017 Pro Bono Humanum Award at the 11th annual Prix Galien USA Awards Ceremony, to be held on Thursday, October 26, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

May 2, 2017
Crusade Against the Evil of the Elephant’s Paw (en español)
Published by El Pais.
A global alliance works to eliminate this parasitic disease that disfigures 40 million affected members with swelling and threatens one in seven people in the world.

May 2, 2017
Cruzada contra el mal de la pata de elefante
Published by El Pais.
Una alianza global trabaja para eliminar esta enfermedad parasitaria que desfigura a 40 millones de afectados con hinchazones de los miembros y amenaza a una de cada siete personas en el mundo.

Nov. 15, 2016
Community Hosts Outreach Milestone Celebration
Published by The Nation: Nigeria.
A rustic community in the Federal Capital Territory (FTC) was chosen to host the Carter Centre’s milestone of administering 500 million doses of medication to fight Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in 14 countries, including Nigeria, reports Vincent Ikuomola.

May 24, 2016
Nigeria: Elephantiasis - Dealing With the Neglected and Incurable Disease
Published by All Africa.
Lymphatic Filariasis is cased by a parasite which is transmitted by mosquito bite. It can cause extreme swelling and fever.

July 17, 2014
Haiti National Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis – A Model of Success in the Face of Adversity
Published by PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 8(7): e2915.
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne parasitic infection that causes lymphedema, elephantiasis, and hydrocele. Haiti is one of only four countries left in the Americas where transmission of lymphatic filariasis still occurs.

June 24, 2014
Three Ideas to Accelerate the Fight Against Malaria
Published by The Huffington Post.
Nigeria has the highest malaria death rate of any country and one of the world's largest populations at risk for LF. Is there a way that we can tackle both diseases simultaneously? Yes, the same bed net can fight both diseases by reducing mosquito bites. So, The Carter Center is focusing its efforts in Nigeria, supporting the government's efforts to make sure more people have access to bed nets and know how to use them. This is an efficient and effective method of tackling two debilitating diseases.

April 28, 2014
Man Versus Mosquito: Steps to Better Prevent and Control Malaria (link no longer available)
Published by GSK More than Medicine blog.
Malaria claims more than 600,000 lives per year, most of them children under the age of 5 living in Sub Saharan Africa. We are supporting a project of The Carter Center in Nigeria that exemplifies the sense of urgency, perseverance, coordination and creativity that we need to replicate elsewhere. The Atlanta-based nonprofit is integrating interventions for malaria and lymphatic filariasis (LF), both of which are spread by the same mosquito.

April 27, 2014
Fighting a Killer, One Bed Net at a Time
Published by Philanthropy Age.
Friday, April 25, 2014, marked World Malaria Day, when healthcare and non-profit organizations from across the world came together to highlight the threat of a deadly disease to which half of the world's population is at risk. Dr Gregory Noland, malaria control program epidemiologist at The Carter Center, a US-based nonprofit organization that is leading efforts against six diseases including malaria, explains the threat to recent gains against the disease.

April 11, 2014
Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (PDF)
Published by Weekly Epidemiological Record, 2014, 89, 153–160. 
The 22nd meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center on Jan. 14, 2014, to discuss the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Africa.

March 20, 2014
NGDOs in Ouagadougou Reaffirm their Commitment for Elimination of River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis as an Objective (PDF)
Published by the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control Newsletter.
The commitment of NGDOs to the acceleration of onchocerciasis and LF elimination is at once both firm in intent but flexible in approach. The onchocerciasis NGDO group changed its name last year from the NGDO Coordination Group for Onchocerciasis Control to the NGDO Coordination Group for Onchocerciasis Elimination to demonstrate our combined commitment by our 13 members to the interruption of river blindness transmission once and for all, globally.

Feb. 20, 2014
Nigeria Launches Africa's First Nationwide Malaria and Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis) Elimination Co-Implementation Plan (PDF)
Published by Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health.
The Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health is distributing new national guidelines for co-implementation of interventions to eliminate malaria and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis). This combined nationwide strategy is the first of its kind in Africa and will allow the Federal and State Ministries of Health to efficiently protect all Nigerians from the two mosquito transmitted parasitic diseases. | Review the co-implementation guidelines (PDF) > | Watch the video "Nigeria Launches Coordinated Plan to Eliminate Malaria and Lymphatic Filariasis >

Nov. 6, 2013
Treating the Village to Cure the Disease
Published by New York Times Fixes blog.
In communities across Africa, health workers are going house to house with medicine to combat lymphatic filariasis, or L.F., which is the world's second-largest cause of chronic disability. What makes this remarkable is that most of the people being treated aren't sick. They are participating in a strategy called mass drug administration, which treats everyone in an area where a disease is found – even if they aren't sick or infected. Normally, it would be malpractice to treat people for a disease they don't have. But some neglected tropical diseases will go on slowly killing and disabling people as long as some in the population are infected. Mass treatment is the way to break the cycle of transmission.

Sept. 9, 2013
Clarke Honored by The Carter Center
Published by WLS – ABC Chicago.
Clarke was recently honored by the Carter Center for donating special mosquito netting. These nets are saving lives in Nigeria. 22 million people in Nigeria are infected with Lymphatic Filariasis, or LF, a debilitating disease that causes excessive swelling of a person's limbs. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. The Carter Center is fighting Lymphatic Filariasis through education, drug treatments and preventative measures like, distributing these bed-covering nets infused with insecticides, provided by Clarke, a local mosquito control company.

June 13, 2013
Two Nigerian States Stop The Transmission of Lymphatic Filariasis, Carter Center Congratulates The Achievement
Published by The Global Dispatch.
The Carter Center congratulates Nasarawa and Plateau states for becoming the first Nigerian states to stop transmission of lymphatic filariasis (LF), a parasitic disease most commonly known for causing elephantiasis, according to a Carter Center press release June 13.

April 11, 2013
Faces of Elephantiasis: In Nigeria. Patients Remain After the Disease is Gone
Published by Public Radio International.
Graitcer, aformerly an epidemiologist with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lived in Africa in the 1980s. He recently returned to the continent as a journalist and came face to face with a disease he had only read about in textbooks. He shares his thoughts on an experience in Northern Nigeria.

April 5, 2013
New Strategy Aims to Eradicate Elephantiasis
Published by Voice of America.
The tropical disease known as lymphatic filariasis, or elephantiasis, affects 120 million people worldwide.The devastating parasitic illness causes lymphedema, in which legs, arms and genitals swell to enormous size. Now, a new public health strategy, tested in Nigeria, is raising hopes that this crippling disease can soon be eradicated.

Oct. 22, 2012
An Amazing Tale of Three Men and a Miracle Drug Changing Lives of Millions
Published by the Saporta Report.
Three amazing men sat on the same stage to tell an amazing tale of how they led the fight to get rid of one of the most debilitating human diseases - river blindness. The occasion was the 25th anniversary of the Mectizan Donation Project, and the location was the Carter Center - the site where it all came together in 1987.

Aug. 5, 2011
Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication, April 2011/Réunion du Groupe spécial international pour l'éradication des maladies, avril 2011 (PDF)
Published by the Weekly Epidemiological Record, 2011, 86, 341–352.
The 18th meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication was convened at the Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, United States, on 6 April 2011, to discuss the control and possible elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Africa.

May 14, 2010
Elimination Meets Reality in Hispaniola (PDF)
Published by Science magazine.
There is absolutely no reason for malaria to persist on the island of Hispaniola, says Donald Hopkins, longtime disease fi ghter and vice president for health programs at the Carter Center in Atlanta. All the other islands in the Caribbean have rid themselves of this mosquito-borne disease. And the Dominican Republic (D.R.), which shares the island with Haiti, has driven cases to remarkably low levels. Related video: Two Countries, Two Diseases, One Island >

May 14, 2010
Shrinking the Malaria Map From the Outside In (PDF)
Published by Science magazine.
Richard Feachem wants to "shrink the malaria map." By that, he and his Global Health Group at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), mean wiping out malaria at its "natural margins"-those countries on the edge of malaria transmission where the disease has just a tentative foothold-and working inward. It's going for the "low-hanging fruit," he says. "It's a no-brainer."

Dec. 16, 2008
Haiti and Dominican Republic Urged to Fight Mosquito Illnesses Together
Published by The New York Times.
The Carter Center has called for a joint effort to eliminate two mosquito-borne diseases, malaria and lymphatic filariasis, from their last foothold in the Caribbean: the island of Hispaniola.

March 17, 2007
Learning to Live with a Disfiguring Disease (PDF)
Published by NPR.
A health worker, who is the son of missionaries, has started a support group to help people suffering from a disfiguring and painful condition called lymphatic filariasis.

March 13, 2007
A Doctor's Lifelong Commitment to Fight Diseases (PDF)
Published by NPR.
Dr. Frank Richards specializes in the infectious diseases that are rampant in developing countries, especially diseases that target children.

April 9, 2006
Beyond Swollen Limbs, A Disease's Hidden Agony (PDF)
Published by The New York Times.
This is the fourth in The New York Times "On the Brink" series of articles about five diseases - polio, Guinea worm, blinding trachoma, measles and lymphatic filariasis - that are extinct in the developed world but stubbornly persistent in some poor nations. As the diseases hover on the brink of eradication, doctors and scientists face daunting obstacles as they struggle to finish the job. View related NYT video > | View related NYT slideshow >

March 22, 2005
New York Times Feature: Battling Insects, Parasites and Politics (PDF)
Published by The New York Times.
Part of the "Cases Without Borders" series, this feature article examines how mosquito netting treated with insecticide is aiding the battle against lymphatic filariasis.

July 28, 2000
Intevention research on onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis
Published by Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2000: 75: 246-248.
The task force on filariasis intervention research of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) invites proposals on the following topics for review during its forthcoming meeting in September 2000.