The Bengal government on Monday launched a special drive of mass drug administration to eradicate filariasis in five districts — Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Murshidabad and West Burdwan. The drive was inaugurated at the cultural community hall of the Bolpur municipality.

State health department officials said there were around 35,803 cases of lymphatic filariasis in the state and 19 districts were considered as endemic.

Dr Po-Lin Chan, team leader of communicable diseases of the World Health Organisation, Dr Nupur Roy, senior chief medical officer of National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, deputy director of health services of Bengal Tushar Acharya, Birbhum district magistrate Bidhan Ray and several other officials were present at the launch.