Integrated Approaches to Surveillance of Lymphatic Filariasis and Other Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Islands
Map of the Pacific region identifying Pacific Island Countries and Territories that have eliminated (blue) and not yet eliminated (red) lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem, 2026.
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne neglected tropical disease targeted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for global elimination as a public health problem. Sixteen Pacific Island countries and territories were historically endemic, and eight have now met the WHO criteria for elimination as a public health problem. Elimination as a public health problem does not imply zero transmission. Rather, it denotes that LF prevalence has been reduced below a defined threshold at which community transmission can be sustained. Following validation of elimination, the WHO recommends post-validation surveillance (PVS) to detect potential re-emergence of LF as a public health problem. However, implementing PVS is challenging in Small Island Developing States with dispersed populations, limited workforce capacity, resource constraints, and competing health priorities. The ‘Voices and Visions: Building Partnerships for Integrated Serosurveillance of LF and Other Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Islands’ meeting was held in Brisbane, Australia, from 8-10 July 2025. Fifty-one delegates, including Pacific LF programme managers, WHO representatives, global health partners, and academic researchers, reviewed regional PVS progress, discussed the newly released WHO guidelines for the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of PVS, planned for PVS implementation, and explored novel multiplex bead assay (MBA) serological analysis methods to strengthen regional coordination for its development as a public health tool. Five broad themes emerged. First, the new WHO Monitoring and Epidemiological Assessment of Mass Drug Administration in the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis: A Manual for National Elimination Programmes, 2nd edn needs to be operationalised to meet decision-making needs across diverse Pacific settings. Second, integrating LF-PVS with existing surveys and health service activities could improve efficiency and long-term sustainability. Third, regional coordination and alignment of funding cycles will require high-level collaboration. Fourth, community engagement is essential to strengthen demand for PVS. Finally, while at an early stage and with further evidence needed, MBA laboratory methods hold promise for cost-effective, feasible integrated multi-pathogen serosurveillance.
Adam T Craig, Harriet L S Lawford, Temea Bauro, Clement Couteaux, Litiana Volavala, Myrielle Dupont-Rouzeyrol, Noel Gama Soares, Roger Nehemia, Maria Ome-Kaius, Prudence Rymill, Fasihah Taleo, Patricia Tatui, ‘Ofa Sanft Tukia, Satupaitea Viali, Mary Yohogu, Fiona Angrisano, Leanne J Robinson, Salanieta Saketa, Andie Tucker, Charles Mackenzie, Susana Vaz Nery, Venkatachalam Udhayakumar, Katherine Gass, Patrick Lammie, Colleen L Lau. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2026 Feb 14;11(2):54. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed11020054.