Studies in filariasis in East Africa

Abstract
1. 1) Wide-spread campaigns aimed at the eradication of malaria are planned or are actually in operation in most countries of the world. 2. 2) The urgency of this world-wide campaign is due to the risk of the development of resistance of anophelines to insecticide and the need to protect those countries that have achieved eradication from reinvasion with the malaria parasite. 3. 3) Practically everywhere there has been a remarkable reduction of malaria and over wide areas it is becoming a disease of little public health importance. Eradication is in sight in many places. There are, however, some countries where the national resources, particularly of personnel, are not adequate to ensure that a nation-wide campaign will be carried out sufficiently effectively to ensure eradication. In such countries it seems necessary either to wait until such resources are available or to embark, over-optimistically, on a campaign that is unlikely to succeed. 4. 4) In such areas, it is suggested that, as an alternative to a nation-wide campaign, it might be preferable to build up malaria eradication from the district level, based on the rural health service. 5. 5) The advantages and disadvantages of such a change are discussed in the light of the development of operations to achieve eradication and are illustrated from malaria eradication campaigns that are being carried out in the Western Pacific.*