TEN per cent of Kitwe’s population has the elephantiasis parasite, according to district health officer Dr Chikafuna Banda. The Ministry of Health has since started vaccinating residents against the disease caused by the filarial worm, which is transmitted from human to human by a female mosquito. Dr Banda yesterday said having 10 per cent of the district’s population with elephantiasis was too big a number to be ignored as the disease was dangerous. Elephantiasis is a parasitic infection that causes extreme swelling in the arms and legs. It is typically characterized by a thickening of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that leads to enlarged and swollen limbs. The condition is also called lymphatic filariasis. “We have done our best. In Kitwe, 10 per cent of people have the parasite so it’s important that people turn up to get the medicine. This is a dangerous disease that can affect one’s life,” Dr Banda said in an interview. He said elephantiasis was a tropical diseases that had been neglected. “It’s unfortunate that we only look at diseases like malaria and HIV. But this one is quite serious and needs to be addressed on time. We don’t have to allow this diseases to spread; 10 per cent is a big number that we cannot allow,” said Dr Banda who also urged people to ensure they are vaccinated against the disease. The administration of elephantiasis vaccines has been - See more at: http://www.postzambia.com/news.php?id=8891#sthash.jMuaNDuZ.dpuf