Infected via some species of mosquito, it seriously damages the lymphatic system of the infected individual and causes such physical disabilities as lymphedema of the limbs and genitals.
Elimination of Tropical Diseases
Neglected Tropic Diseases (NTDs) include 21 diseases that the WHO identifies as tropical diseases which human race must overcome. More than 1.6 billion people living in the poorest and most marginalized communities worldwide are exposed to the risk of NTDs infection. The spread of NTDs is mainly caused by poor hygienic conditions associated with poverty. Infections from these diseases may result in serious physical impairment and this often results in normal economic and social activities becoming highly challenging to the individual. In the worst cases, NTDs may also result in death. The prevalence of NTDs is a stumbling block to economic growth for developing and emerging countries and represents a serious issue for these regions.
What Are the 21 Neglected Tropical Diseases?
For details on these 21 diseases, please click on any of the boxes to open a new window.
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Chagas’ disease is an infection transmitted by the blood-sucking “kissing bugs” of the subfamilyTriatominae. It is sometimes called a silent disease since it takes a while to develop visible symptoms after infection, and can also lead to death if untreated.
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Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasite of the genusLeishmaniaand are transmitted by the bite of a species of sand fly. There are 3 main forms of leishmaniases, cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and visceral leishmaniasis. Visceral leishmaniasis may be fatal if untreated.
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Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease)
People are infected with this disease after drinking water containing water fleas called cyclopses that have swallowed larvae of the guinea worm. The area around the infection develops blisters and, when the female worm lays larvae outside the human body, it is accompanied by burning pain.
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African sleeping sickness (Human African trypanosomiasis)
African sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) is a parasitic disease transmitted by the tsetse fly. When the disease progresses, it causes meningoencephalitis and eventually coma and death, hence referred to as African sleeping sickness.
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Infected in childhood by flies and other insects in unsanitary conditions, trachoma causes corneal damage after repeated infections over time, and it can lead to blindness.
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Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infection caused byMycobacteriumleprae. The disease mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves, causing various skin lesions including hypopigmentation.
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An infectious disease caused by parasitic worms in river/lake water. It is transmitted by fresh water snails as the intermediate host. Once infected, it first causes bloody urine or stool. In later stages, it can cause bladder cancer and cirrhosis of the liver, both of which may be fatal.
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Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is an infectious disease caused by the parasitic wormOnchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted through the bite of the black fly. The infection causes intense itching and skin rash. It may cause eye diseases, which may progress to blindness.
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Soil-transmitted helminthiasis
Infections occur when a person eats food contaminated with helminth eggs or larvae that are infectious. It causes anemia, malnutrition, bowel obstruction and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
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The route of infection for Buruli ulcer remains undetermined. It causes disfigurements including skin ulcers on the limbs and malformed joints.
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When people are infected by the dengue and chikungunya virus (via mosquitoes), symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and headache appear. Dengue fever could develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can be fatal.
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This is a parasitic tissue infection caused by larvae cysts of the pork tapeworm. After infection, the larvae of the pork tapeworm migrate to various parts of the body, including the muscles, eyes, and brain. Their migration to the brain can be fatal.
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Rabies is a viral disease transmitted to people mainly from dogs infected by the disease. When the infection extends to the brain and spinal cord, it causes seizures and eventual death.
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Humans are infected through ingestion of parasite eggs in contaminated food, water or soil, or after direct contact with animal hosts. It causes hepatomegaly, cutaneous pruritus, and other symptoms. In advanced stages, it can be fatal.
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Food borne trematode infections
People become infected with food borne trematodes after eating raw or poorly cooked freshwater fish and animal livers that harbor the minute metacercariae of trematode worms such asClonorchisandFasciola. It causes fever and abdominal pain.
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Yaws is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact through scrapes or cuts. It affects the skin, bone, and cartilage. Walnut-sized nodules appear on the skin.
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Serious inflammatory disease, which slowly and progressively destroys soft tissue, caused by bacteria or fungus entering the subcutaneous tissue through a cut or wound. Left untreated, it can lead to physical disabilities and deformities.
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A parasitic infestation caused bySarcoptes scabiei var hominis, transmitted through person-to-person contact. It leads to intense itch and rash caused by an allergic reaction to mite proteins and feces.
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Toxins in the bite of a venomous snake may lead to paralysis that may prevent breathing, making immediate medical attention critical. It may also cause bleeding disorders, kidney failure, or tissue destruction.
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Noma, a disease with high fatality rate, starts as gingivitis which spreads to destroy facial tissues and bones. It primarily affects malnourished young children in regions of extreme poverty.
See Details on Three Major Infectious Diseases
The London Declaration: A United Front to Eliminate and Eradicate NTDs
The first step toward eradicating NTDs was selecting target diseases to be eliminated and then launching an international united front of governments and pharmaceutical companies.
On January 30, 2012, 13 major pharmaceutical companies*1 including Eisai, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the WHO, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, and the governments of NTD-endemic countries jointly issued the London Declaration, forming a united front to control and eliminate 10 NTDs by 2020. As the largest international public–private partnership to combat NTDs at that time, the London Declaration aims to control and eliminate NTDs by committing to working collaboratively in an effort to comprehensively tackle issues pertaining to drug supply, distribution, development, and implementation programs as it seeks to more effectively combat NTDs. Since the London Declaration, the pharma industry has contributed to the elimination of NTDs via supply of medicines which resulted in donation of 14 billion high-quality treatments. Tremendous achievements have been made through NTDs elimination activities of public-private partnership. Forty-six countries have eliminated at least one NTD and 600 million people no longer require interventions against NTDs. Despite such progress, more than 1.6 billion people remain threatened by NTDs and continuous coordinated effort through strong partnership is needed.
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*1Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eisai, GlaxonSmithKline, Gilead, Johnson & Johnson, Merck (Merck KGaA: Germany), Merck Sharp & Dhome, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi
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*2Dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease), lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, African sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis), leprosy, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, schistosomiasis, Onchocerciasis (river blindness), Chagas’ disease, and leishmaniasis
From London Declaration to Kigali Declaration
As the successor of the London Declaration on NTDs launched in 2012, the Kigali Declaration represents a collective commitment from stakeholders to fight against NTDs and was announced at the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs in June 2022 in Kigali, the capital of the Republic of Rwanda. It aims to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 target on NTDs and achieve the WHO’s road map for NTDs 2021-2030 eradicating two NTDs, eliminating at least one NTD in 100 countries and decreasing the number of people requiring interventions for NTDs by 90%. Through people-centered approach by multi-sectoral partnerships, the Declaration strives to tackle NTDs comprehensively and sustainably by sustaining a multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach, strengthening country ownership including establishment of local health system and domestic financing, accelerating research and development of treatments and diagnostics for NTDs, and ensuring equitable access to these NTDs related products and services.