Triple Drug Therapy Campaign Accelerated to Eliminate Filariasis: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, March 2026: The campaign to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (elephantiasis) is being intensified across Maharashtra and the country through the implementation of ‘Triple Drug Therapy’ (IDA), Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. The combined treatment includes Ivermectin, DEC (Diethylcarbamazine) and Albendazole. The Central Government has set a target to completely eradicate the disease from India by 2027, with active participation from the state government.

Fadnavis noted that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare initiated focused efforts to tackle neglected diseases like filariasis. He recalled that in 2017, Maharashtra had urged the Centre to prioritise the state—especially districts in the Vidarbha region—for this treatment. The initiative has significantly helped reduce suffering among tribal and rural populations. He added that Maharashtra is fully supporting the Prime Minister’s vision of eliminating filariasis from the country.

Target to Cover 5.5 Million People

The Chief Minister said that a large-scale Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign is being conducted across 12 states, including Maharashtra. Under this initiative, eligible citizens are given preventive medicines annually to curb the spread of the disease. In select districts of the state, the advanced Triple Drug Therapy (IDA) is being used instead of the conventional two-drug regimen, as it is considered more effective in controlling the disease within a shorter period.

Filariasis remains highly prevalent in the Vidarbha region, with special campaigns underway in districts such as Gadchiroli, Bhandara and Chandrapur. The state aims to provide treatment benefits to approximately 5.5 million people.

Significant Progress in Disease Control

The disease is present in 18 districts of Maharashtra, including Nagpur, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Wardha, Gadchiroli, Amravati, Akola, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Jalgaon, Sindhudurg, Nanded, Thane, Palghar, Nandurbar and Yavatmal. According to a February 2026 report, nearly 75 per cent of filariasis cases in the state are concentrated in the Nagpur division, with Bhandara, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Gadchiroli and Gondia being the most affected districts.

The Triple Drug Therapy (IDA) strategy has shown remarkable success. In rural Nagpur, the microfilaria (MF) rate has dropped from 4.91 per cent in 2014 to less than 1 per cent by 2024.

Experts say the IDA treatment is more effective in reducing microfilariae (parasites), helping to curb transmission more rapidly. The state government has urged citizens not to believe in rumours and to take the medicines under the supervision of health workers. Experts also emphasised that active public participation is essential to achieve complete eradication of the disease.