MDA campaign launched in four districts to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis

Nepal is accelerating its drive to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) as a public health problem by 2030. Of the country’s 64 endemic districts, 57 have already stopped the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) following successful interruption of transmission (achieving WHO‑recommended microfilaria threshold of less than 1%). However, there are few high-risk municipalities in five districts with continued transmission that require intensified interventions to sustain national progress. On 21 January 2026, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), Ministry of Health and Population, with support from WHO Nepal, launched an additional round of MDA in 27 municipalities of Banke, Rautahat, and Sarlahi districts, and expanded to six municipalities of Jhapa district on 22 January. These rounds of MDA aim to reach approximately 1.45 million eligible individuals, leveraging active community engagement to achieve at least 80% coverage. Preventive chemotherapy remains Nepal’s primary strategy to stop transmission and protect at‑risk populations, aligned with WHO’s Global NTD Roadmap 2021-2030.