{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,16]],"date-time":"2026-07-16T21:58:00Z","timestamp":1784239080012,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,14]],"date-time":"2026-02-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1771027200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"UQ\u2019s Health Research Accelerator"},{"name":"Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases"},{"name":"NHMRC Investigator Grant","award":["2017630"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2017630"]}]},{"name":"NHMRC Investigator Grant","award":["2018220"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2018220"]}]},{"name":"NHMRC Investigator Grant","award":["1193826"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1193826"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["TropicalMed"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne neglected tropical disease targeted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for global elimination as a public health problem. Sixteen Pacific Island countries and territories were historically endemic, and eight have now met the WHO criteria for elimination as a public health problem. Elimination as a public health problem does not imply zero transmission. Rather, it denotes that LF prevalence has been reduced below a defined threshold at which community transmission can be sustained. Following validation of elimination, the WHO recommends post-validation surveillance (PVS) to detect potential re-emergence of LF as a public health problem. However, implementing PVS is challenging in Small Island Developing States with dispersed populations, limited workforce capacity, resource constraints, and competing health priorities. The \u2018Voices and Visions: Building Partnerships for Integrated Serosurveillance of LF and Other Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Islands\u2019 meeting was held in Brisbane, Australia, from 8\u201310 July 2025. Fifty-one delegates, including Pacific LF programme managers, WHO representatives, global health partners, and academic researchers, reviewed regional PVS progress, discussed the newly released WHO guidelines for the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of PVS, planned for PVS implementation, and explored novel multiplex bead assay (MBA) serological analysis methods to strengthen regional coordination for its development as a public health tool. Five broad themes emerged. First, the new WHO Monitoring and Epidemiological Assessment of Mass Drug Administration in the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis: A Manual for National Elimination Programmes, 2nd edn needs to be operationalised to meet decision-making needs across diverse Pacific settings. Second, integrating LF-PVS with existing surveys and health service activities could improve efficiency and long-term sustainability. Third, regional coordination and alignment of funding cycles will require high-level collaboration. Fourth, community engagement is essential to strengthen demand for PVS. Finally, while at an early stage and with further evidence needed, MBA laboratory methods hold promise for cost-effective, feasible integrated multi-pathogen serosurveillance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed11020054","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,16]],"date-time":"2026-02-16T14:09:54Z","timestamp":1771250994000},"page":"54","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Integrated Approaches to Surveillance of Lymphatic Filariasis and Other Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Islands"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9287-8755","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Adam T.","family":"Craig","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Operational Reseach and Decision Support for Infectious Diseases (ODeSI) Program, Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9699-8201","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Harriet L. S.","family":"Lawford","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Operational Reseach and Decision Support for Infectious Diseases (ODeSI) Program, Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Temea","family":"Bauro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Tarawa P.O. Box 268, Kiribati"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Clement","family":"Couteaux","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Agence de Sant\u00e9 of Wallis and Futuna, Sia Hospital, Hahake District, Wallis 98600, Wallis and Futuna"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Litiana","family":"Volavala","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dinem House, 88 Amy Street, Toorak, Suva P.O. Box 2223, Fiji"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6991-4893","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Myrielle","family":"Dupont-Rouzeyrol","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"L\u2019Unit\u00e9 de Recherche et d\u2019Expertise Dengue et Arboviroses, Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle-Caledonia, Noum\u00e9a Centre Ville 98800, New Caledonia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Noel Gama","family":"Soares","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Timor-Leste Ministry of Health, Palaco do Governo, Dili TL10001, Timor-Leste"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roger","family":"Nehemia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health, Tupapa, Rarotonga 0000, Cook Islands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7094-474X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Ome-Kaius","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka P.O. Box 60, Papua New Guinea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Prudence","family":"Rymill","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Vanuatu Ministry of Health, Port Vila P.O. Box 177, Vanuatu"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fasihah","family":"Taleo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"World Health Organization Vanuatu Country Office, Port Vila P.O. Box 177, Vanuatu"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patricia","family":"Tatui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Niue Department of Health, Niue Foou Hospital, Alofi P.O. Box 40, Niue"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"\u2018Ofa Sanft","family":"Tukia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Tonga Ministry of Health, Nuku\u2019alofa P.O. Box 59, Tonga"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Satupaitea","family":"Viali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Oceania University of Medicine, Apia P.O. Box 232, Samoa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mary","family":"Yohogu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Papua New Guinea Ministry of Health, Waigani 121, Port Moresby P.O. Box 807, Papua New Guinea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fiona","family":"Angrisano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Vector-Borne Diseases and Tropical Public Health Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leanne J.","family":"Robinson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Vector-Borne Diseases and Tropical Public Health Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Salanieta","family":"Saketa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Health Division, Pacific Community, Suva P.O. Box 2223, Fiji"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andie","family":"Tucker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, Decatur, GA 30030, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Charles","family":"Mackenzie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, Decatur, GA 30030, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2399-7785","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Susana Vaz","family":"Nery","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Health Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW (Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2033, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Venkatachalam","family":"Udhayakumar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA 30030, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2084-8039","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katherine","family":"Gass","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA 30030, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patrick","family":"Lammie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA 30030, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8288-4169","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Colleen L.","family":"Lau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Operational Reseach and Decision Support for Infectious Diseases (ODeSI) Program, Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"i53","DOI":"10.1093\/inthealth\/ihv071","article-title":"Social stigma towards neglected tropical diseases: A systematic review","volume":"8","author":"Hofstraat","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. 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