In Malaysia it was estimated in 1983 that 2.5 million people lived in endemic areas and from 1960 to 1984 more than 20,000 people were found to be infected. The more important filarial parasite is B. malayi. There are four main target areas for the control of filariasis, namely, mass or selective chemotherapy, reducing numbers of infected animal hosts, control of vectors and minimising human-vector contact.