Human filariasis: infection rate as the uniform measurable criterion for filarial endemicity

Abstract

The endemicity classification based on filariasis infection rate is suggested. Based on the filariometric data collected from 60 villages in Orissa, areas are classified into low, high, hyper and holo endemic levels. Suggested endemicity levels are found to correlate very well with the filariometric indices. The mean mf rates were found to be 2.7, 6.8, 12.0, and 16.0, and disease rates 4.9, 10.2, 18.9 and 35.1 respectively at four endemicity levels. It is suggested that the proposed classification may uniformly be used in mapping areas for endemicity so as to help direct public health control interventions in a judicious manner.