Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SM/NR)

Mangalore, Jul 26: The department of health is planning to undertake a massive drug administration (MDA) drive against filariasis in the district.

The coastal and high tropic regions of the state have a high prevalence of filariasis, according to Dr Jagannath, the district health officer and it is a vector-borne disease that spreads through the Culex mosquito, he added. 

Saturday July 28 will be observed as National Filariasis Day. On this day, Di Ethyl Carbamazine Citrate (DEC) tablets will be administered to all those suffering from the disease, at the district health office, he said. He further clarified that the tablets DEC were safe and people can take the tablets without any fear.

According to Dr Prabhudeva, the chief district medical officer Filariasis is a dangerous disease with an incubation period of seven to eight years and during this period, those infected might not have any symptoms of the disease, but the infected person will be capable of transmitting it to others.