Introduction of Triple-Drug Therapy for Accelerating Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination in India: Lessons Learned

There are 670 million people at risk of contracting lymphatic filariasis (LF) in India, which bears 40% of the global burden of the disease. The National Program to Eliminate LF was launched in 2004 first with a single-drug therapy—diethylcarbamazine (DEC), followed by a two-drug therapy—DEC + albendazole (DA). In 2017, following successful drug trials, World Health Organization endorsed a new triple-drug therapy to fight LF using ivermectin with DEC and albendazole (IDA). (1) In June 2018, India made new commitments to accelerate their program to eliminate LF and initiated the new IDA protocol in five districts in the country. This article looks at the experience of India in the roll out of the new drug protocol and shares their preparations, successes, challenges, and lessons learned.