Besides, about five crore people in the country are vulnerable to this debilitating disease, transmitted by mosquito.

Globally, about 12 crore people in 80 countries are suffering from filariasis, according Prof Dr Moazzem Hossain, Programme Manager (filariasis) and Coordinator of National Taskforce for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis under the Health Directorate.

He said all the mosquitoes --culex, anopheles, mansonia and aedes--spread the disease. Visible symptoms of the disease appear on the body after 3-10 years of infection, he said.

The disease causes genetic damage, especially fluid-filled balloon-like enlargement of penis and scrotum, entire leg, arm or breast swelling several times more than normal, he said.

During a recent visit to Panchagarh, one of the highly filariasis-prone border districts, this correspondent found that people are now becoming conscious about the disease after launching of a programme by the government with assistance from Japan. They are also getting treatment facilities.

Sharifjan, 45, a housewife in Panchagarh municipal area, said swelling of her right leg decreased after taking exercise as per instruction of experts and health workers.

But those who are not aware are suffering. Mokhtar Ali, 32, a barber in the small town can not marry as he is suffering from lymphatic filariasis for the last 10 years, which has enlarged his left leg, testicles and also caused other complications.

“The disease has shattered my dreams. I could not marry due to this disease,” Mokhter told this correspondent.

Dr Moazzem, at a briefing at Panchagarh Press Club and at an orientation programme at Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner's office recently said although border districts of Rajshahi division were once highly prone to filariasis, it is spreading to other districts now.

The disease was detected in nine districts in 1997, 23 in 2001 and in 32 districts last year. Blood tests this year have detected the disease in 39 districts, he said.

Of the 39, five are high-prevalence districts. These are Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Lalmonirhat, Dr. Moazzem said.

Most of the affected people are poor as their resistance capacity is less due to malnutrition. It rarely infects the rich, said Dr. Moazzem, also director of Filaria Hospital in Lalmonirhat, the lone such hospital in the world.

But the treatment is very simple and easy. A single twin dose of two drugs--Albendazole and DEC (Diethylcarbamazine) tablets--is enough to kill the germ and stop its transmission, he said.

All except children below the age of two years, pregnant women and hospitalised patients can take these drugs.

Besides, the attacked person has to wash his infected part of the body with soap to keep it clean and do exercise to keep the swelling under control, Dr Moazzem said.

The government of Japan is providing six crore tablets annually since 2001 to run a programme to eliminate the disease in the five high- prevalence districts.

The last dosage in the five districts will be started by the end of this month, which will hopefully reduce the disease in the areas to a large extent, Dr. Moazzem said.

Members of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), working with health officials, are playing a significant role to create awareness about the disease and treat the infected people in the five districts since 2004.

At Panchagarh, JOCV Senior Programme Officer Masao Koda said five JOVC members are working in the five districts to eliminate the disease by 2015. This is part of a WHO target to eliminate lymphatic filariasis from the world by 2020.