• Caused by thread-like parasitic worms (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori) that damage the human lymphatic system – transmitted by mosquitoes (see additional file 1) |
• One of the most disabling and disfiguring of diseases |
• 80+ endemic countries (Figure 1) |
• 1+ billion people are at risk of infection |
• 120 million people are infected. Of these... |
• 43 million people have swelling of the limbs and breasts (known as lymphoedema) and genitals (known as hydrocoele), and their more chronic state – known as elephantiasis – in which the skin becomes enormously thickened, and is rough, hard, and fissured |
• It is a disease of poverty – affecting the "poorest of the poor" – preventing those afflicted from living a normal working and social life (See additional file 2) |
• Children acquire the disease early and are blighted for life |