In the wake of the killer waves of the tsunami that struck in late December 2004, neglected diseases like lymphatic filariasis (LF) face more intense challenges than ever before. In Sri Lanka, for instance, where tsunami victims lost their families, homes and livelihoods, Dr. Tilaka Liyanage, the LF programme manager, and her team are committed to moving forward with the planned mass drug administration in August 2005, particularly considering the additional health benefits and improved nutrition that result from the drugs. However, now they also must increase their vector control efforts and consider how to continue the operation of the anti-filariasis clinics in tsunami-affected areas.The combination of the upcoming monsoon season

Quick MDA statistics

Treatment: albendazole and DEC

Total population: 18.9 million (10 million at-risk for LF)

2001 MDA: 2.17 million
2002 MDA: 10 million
2003 MDA: 9.85 million
2004 MDA: 9.85 million

and the compromised infrastructure are expected to result in additional mosquito breeding sites and the possibility of higher rates of filariasis, malaria, and dengue transmission. In response, the Anti Filariasis Campaign and Ministry of Health plan to collaborate with the World Health Organization and other local non-profit organisations to distribute insecticide-impregnated bed nets to the affected families and to use thermal fogging as a means of vector control close to the temporary camps. Also, the team plans to make additional commitments to disability management programmes in the coastal areas to ensure that infected individuals continue to receive relief for their LF symptoms to prevent disability. With these additional identified needs, fundraising remains crucial,