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PANCHAGARH, Mar 17 (UNB): Thousands of people have been suffering from filariasis disease in the country only due to lack of awareness about the crippling ailment.
Over 10 million people in 32 districts are now under the threat of filariasis and the numbers of affected people are increasing.
Filariasis Elimination Programme Manager Moazzem Hossain said the disease entails a huge economic loss upon the country as it leads people to gradual disability.
Treatment of the disease is very simple, but first all will have to be aware about the disease to eliminate it from the country.
He said only one simple tablet is enough to prevent the disease, but lack of awareness is the main cause of its spread among the poorer section of people.
Moazzem said the number of filariasis-affected people decreased remarkably in Panchagarh district-from 11 per cent to less than one per cent-since the inception of the drive in the northern districts in 2001.
JOCV/JICA Senior Programme Officer (Filariasis Elimination Programme) Masao Koda said many people in Bangladesh think that filariasis is a hereditary disease but they have a wrong conception about the disease that leads to gradual disability.
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