Lymphatic filariasis elimination in Kenya: Tracing the journey from 2002-2024 and pathways to achieving 2030 target

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic neglected tropical disease (NTD) that can lead to debilitating conditions such as lymphoedema (elephantiasis) and hydrocele, impacting affected individuals’ quality of life and economic productivity by interfering with their physical and psychological health. Like most countries, Kenya established its National Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in 2000. It launched its first Mass Drug Administration (MDA) in Kilifi District in 2002, with subsequent expansions to Kwale, Malindi, Tana River, Lamu, and Mombasa counties in Kenya's coastal region. This is despite documenting its first case in 1910, with high antigenemia and microfilariae prevalence reported by most studies conducted in the pre-program period. MDA was implemented intermittently from 2000 to 2015 due to limited resources to treat all at-risk individuals. However, since 2016, the country has implemented continuous and successive MDA campaigns, which have contributed to a significant reduction in disease prevalence based on the results of transmission and impact surveys conducted so far. Therefore, it is plausible to envisage that the country is on track toward eliminating LF as a public health problem in Kenya by 2030.