Kolkata, Feb 9 (PTI) The West Bengal health department will start a mass drug administration (MDA) programme from Saturday to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) in nine endemic districts, a senior official said on Friday.

Lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, thread-like worms.

Also Read | Aadhaar Card Update Last Date: Final Deadline To Update Aadhaar Ends on March 14, Check Details.

Around 73.97 lakh people will be administered anti-filarial drugs in the districts of Alipurduar, Bankura, Birbhum, Jalpaiguri, Murshidabad, Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Uttar Dinajpur and Bishnupur, he said.

The state's health department officials along with district magistrates will be inaugurating the MDA February round, he said.

Also Read | Murder Caught on Camera in Delhi: Two Men Shot Dead in Saloon in Dwarka, Probe Underway; Disturbing Video Surfaces.

During the drive, it will be ensured that everyone except children below two years, pregnant women and seriously ill people consume the prescribed dosage of the anti-filarial medication, the official added.

It will continue till February 28.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)