The Coimbatore health department has started sentinel surveillance in the area to monitor the prevalence of filariasis, a parasitic disease brought on by a roundworm infection.

The surveillance started as a part of the mission to eradicate filariasis. Deputy Director of health services P Aruna said that if the illness is not addressed, it could lead to physical impairments like elephantiasis. The ongoing process of gathering samples began on November 7 and was conducted randomly throughout the area. Up until Thursday, 8,863 blood smears had been gathered.

The authority further said that the situation was not yet endemic in Coimbatore. Blood samples were consistently taken at night as part of the specific effort to combat filariasis efficiently.

According to Negamam block medical officer A K Rajalakshmi, samples are taken at night because microfilariae start to show up in peripheral blood circulation during this time. Nearly 600 blood samples were randomly taken from people of two villages in Negamam during a two-day journey mostly between 8 pm and 11pm. 

Further, more  blood samples will be collected from two villages in each block, and if anyone is found to contract filariasis, the health department will contact the patient for treatment.

 (Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/filariasis-survey-gets-under-way/articleshow/95463728.cms)