Preparing for the Second Lymphatic Filariasis Transmission Survey in New Ireland Province

On 21 October 2025, a pre-survey training was held in Kavieng, New Ireland Province, to prepare local health workers for the upcoming Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS), a crucial step in confirming that the province remains free from Lymphatic Filariasis (LF). This is the second TAS to be conducted in the province and will follow th e World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The first TAS was conducted and completed in 2021. According to the current WHO guidelines, a total of three TAS rounds are required, and each round must achieve a “Pass” result.

The training was jointly organised by the National Department of Health (NDoH), WHO, the New Ireland Provincial Health Authority (NIPHA), and the JICA project team. The one-day session covered a range of practical topics; from LF basics and survey protocols to field logistics, reporting procedures, and blood sampling practice. A total of 34 health workers from NIPHA participated, including several who had also joined the first TAS, resulting in a smooth and well-coordinated session. Notably, this TAS will be the first in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to use the newly introduced STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT), procured through WHO.

Field activities will be carried out in 30 randomly selected wards, targeting 52 children aged 6–7 years in each location (a total of 1,560 children). Blood samples will be tested on-site using the QFAT kits. If results show a positivity rate above 1%, a targeted Mass Drug Administration (MDA) will be considered to prevent possible resurgence in those areas.

The TAS plays a vital role in tracking LF transmission and detecting any early signs of re-emergence. Fourteen survey teams from NIPHA will be deployed across the province for about two weeks, followed by data analysis and reporting.

Together, these efforts mark another important step towards sustaining LF elimination in PNG.