People often think of leprosy as a bygone disease, relevant primarily in biblical times. But in fact, it is still present in more than 120 countries, and the US is seeing an uptick in cases.
The two year old girl being examined for the possibility of leprosy in Marana, Madagascar,
Laetitia Bezain/dpa via Getty Images
Neglected tropical diseases are often associated with social exclusion as well as physical suffering. One billion people around the world suffer from these diseases.
A nurse gives gives medicine, Ivermectin, against onchocerciasis or river blindness.
Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images
Every year, 1.7 billion people, most in the world’s poorest areas, are affected by NTDs. The diseases cause suffering, stigma, disability and sometimes death.
The Stiletto Snake is one of the species found in Mozambique.
extinctorshy.org - Ali Puruleia
Even by conservative estimates, Mozambique’s snakebite figures are far higher than previously thought.
Molecular research like that conducted at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases in Nigeria is key to medical breakthroughs.
PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images
Relying on donor funding means that the funder ultimately determines the health priorities. This is one reason why many programmes in Africa focus on a single disease such as HIV.
A laboratory technician patient samples at the Amudat Hospital, Uganda. Laboratories are central to the delivery of high quality data in clinical trials.
Paul Kamau
Schistosome worms infect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Researchers have discovered how to use inexpensive drones to identify disease hotspots in remote African villages.
Millions of young children get malaria. These two got it in 2010.
AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam
There’s a big market for new treatments for TB, malaria and other ailments. But most of these diseases afflict low-income people unable to pay for medicine.
Climate change also has an impact on public health.
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A cure for many tropical diseases was discovered 30 years ago this month. The drug is donated by its manufacturer. Why are we still dealing with neglected tropical diseases?
New World Health Organisation Director-General De Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Reuters/Denis Balibouse
Scabies was one of the scourges of those on the First Fleet, but no longer known for most in Australian society. However, in the far remote North, scabies infection is endemic.
Children living in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene account for 60% of people around the world infected with intestinal worms.
Marcos Brindicci/Reuters
There’s a growing body of evidence that shows we could be doing more for the close to billion children at risk of intestinal worms. We simply cannot afford to ignore it.
Children living in tropical countries and in poverty often have high rates of infection with the scabies mite.
UNICEF Ethiopia/flickr
Group Leader, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne. Paediatric Infectious Diseases Physician, Royal Children's Hospital, Murdoch Children's Research Institute