2 Zamboanga provinces now filariasis-free

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Two provinces in the Zamboanga peninsula have been declared filariasis-free after almost two decades of battling the disease, a health official said yesterday.

Sitti Nurussamsi Amilasan, Department of Health (DOH) Region 9 filariasis mass drug administration coordinator, said filariasis has been eradicated in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Amilasan said the DOH is now focused on eliminating the disease in Zamboanga del Norte, where an 80 percent drop in the number of cases was reported last month.

The DOH-Region 9 said there have been around 1,000 filariasis cases in the region since it started its campaign in 1998.

Amilasan said filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is a mosquito-borne disease that results in the enlargement of body parts, particularly the feet and legs.

The DOH is targeting a filariasis-free country in 2017.