The districts of Timika, Sarmi and Waropen will carry out the mass treatment against elephantiasis this month."Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Only three districts in Indonesias easternmost province of Papua will carry out mass treatment against the lymphatic filariasis disease, commonly known as elephantiasis, in November this year, according to Papua Health Office spokesman Aaron Rumainum.
"The districts of Timika, Sarmi and Waropen will carry out the mass treatment against elephantiasis this month," Ruminum remarked here on Tuesday.
According to him, other districts in Papua such as Yapen Islands, Nabire, Biak Numfor, Supiori and Jayapura had carried out the mass treatment against the disease in October.
Earlier in October, Rumainum said residents in some 12 districts in Papua were at risk of contracting the disease.
According to him, the 12 districts are Jayawijaya, Keerom, Mamberamo Raya, Mamberamo Tengah, Pegunungan Bintang, Puncak, Puncak Jaya, Nduga, Sarmi, Waropen, Yahukimo and Intan Jaya.
Elephantiasis is caused by a parasitic worm that is transmitted between people by mosquitoes.
The worms lodge inside a persons lymphatic system, affecting the regulation of body fluids and causing hugely swollen limbs and organs.
The obstructions can affect the immune system and the swelling of tissues, extending in some cases beyond the limbs to the face, neck and scrotal tissue, as well as other regions of the body.
The World Health Organization has said that of the 120 million people infected worldwide, 40 million were disabled or disfigured.
The campaign during Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Month in October was carried out targeting all districts where residents were prone to contracting the disease.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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