THREE BANDUNG RESIDENTS INFECTED WITH LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS

Bandung, West Java Province, Nov. 30 (ANTARA) - Three residents of Bandung have been infected with lymphatic filariasis disease or known as Elephantiasis.

The filariasis virus-infected patients were respectively from Babakan Ciparay, Babakan Ciamis and Cinambo, according to Kuswara Sonka, head of the disease monitoring section of the Bandung health service, said here on Monday.

"We are going to conduct an investigation this evening (Monday, Nov. 30), because filariasis micro virus is usually functioning in the evening," he said.

The Bandung health service had taken blood samples of 360 Babakan Ciamis residents and five Cinambo villagers and the results were negative, he said, adding that it meant that the disease had not yet spread to other people.

Meanwhile, a total of 30 residents of Sukabumi District, West Java Province, have been infected with lymphatic filariasis disease.

"The number is based on data since 2006," Tejo Sriwijoyo of the Sukabumi district health office, said here on last Wednesday (Nov. 25).

According to the data, 14 people suffered from lymphatic filariasis in 2006, four in 2007, nine in 2008, and only three in 2009, he said.

The sufferers had been given necessary medical treatment, he said.

The Sukabumi district health office recently took blood samples of 500 people from 10 different sub districts and villages, and none of them were found to be suffering from filariasis, he said.

Lymphatic filariasis is an infection caused by the filarial worms Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi or B. timori. These parasites are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito and develop into adult worms in the lymphatic vessels, causing severe organic damage and swelling (lymphoedema).

The infection can be treated with drugs. However, chronic conditions may not be curable by anti-filarial drugs and require other measures, such as surgery for hydrocele, care of the skin and exercise to increase lymphatic drainage in lymphoedema.

Lymphatic Filariasis puts at risk more than a billion people in more than 80 countries, especially in India and Africa.