SciDev.Net news story
A mass drug campaign targeting a tropical parasitic worm infection in southwest Tanzania produced an unexpected result: a decline in new HIV infections.
Researchers say their findings suggest that eliminating Wuchereria bancrofti, the parasitic worm responsible for lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, could also reduce vulnerability to HIV.
However, a year on from publication, they say little has been done to incorporate lymphatic filariasis elimination into HIV prevention strategies.
The study, published in The Lancet HIV in May 2025, included researchers from LMU University Hospital in Munich, Germany and the National Institute for Medical Research, in Mbeya, Tanzania.
It is now raising questions about whether parasite treatment should play a bigger role in HIV prevention strategies across Sub-Saharan Africa, with some public health experts suggesting it could be added to existing HIV prevention toolkits.
Read the full news story here.
Source : SciDev.Net
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