World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, on 30th January 2021, more
than 50 landmarks representing 25 nations across the world will be lit up to celebrate how
far we have come together in beating NTDs. India too will proudly join these countries, by
illuminating UNESCO world heritage site Qutub Minar.
• 1 in 5 people around the world are affected by NTDs. India is home to the world’s largest
absolute burden of at least 11 of these major neglected tropical diseases.
Analysis
What are “neglected tropical diseases”?
• There are four primary criteria that define an illness as a neglected tropical disease
(NTD):
• First, there is a significant burden of mortality and morbidity.Secondly, a majority of incidents occur in the world’s tropical and sub-tropical regions,
and it particularly impacts the poor.
• Thirdly, the disease is amenable to treatment, as well as prevention.
• Finally, the overall level of investment in research addressing the disease, from
prevention to diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation, is exceptionally low in
comparison to its impact.
Some of the neglected tropical diseases identified by WHO are (please note that this
list keeps on changing, red coloured diseases might no longer be in the latest list):
o Buruli ulcer
o Chagas disease
o Dengue and Chikungunya
o Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease)
o Echinococcosis
o Foodborne trematodiases
o Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
o Leishmaniasis
o Leprosy (Hansen's disease)
o Lymphatic filariasis
o Mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses
o Onchocerciasis (river blindness)
o Rabies
o Scabies and other ectoparasites
o Schistosomiasis
o Soil-transmitted helminthiases
o Snakebite envenoming
o Taeniasis/Cysticercosis
o Trachoma
o Yaws (Endemic treponematoses)
• The following six NTDs can be controlled or even eliminated through mass
administration of safe and effective medicines or other, effective interventions:
o Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease)o Lymphatic Filariasis
o Onchocerciasis
o Schistosomiasis
o Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH) (i.e., Ascaris, Hookworm, and Whipworm)
o Trachoma
Neglected tropical diseases − Summary
• Dengue: A mosquito-borne infection causing flu-like illness that may develop into
severe dengue and cause lethal complications.
• Rabies: A preventable viral disease transmitted to humans through the bites of infected
dogs that is invariably fatal once symptoms develop.
• Trachoma: A chlamydial infection transmitted through direct contact with infectious
eye or nasal discharge, or through indirect contact with unsafe living conditions and
hygiene practices, which left untreated causes irreversible corneal opacities and
blindness.
• Buruli ulcer: A debilitating mycobacterial skin infection causing severe destruction of
the skin, bone and soft tissue.
• Yaws: A chronic bacterial infection affecting mainly the skin and bone.
• Leprosy: A complex disease caused by infection mainly of the skin, peripheral nerves,
mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and eyes.
• Chagas disease: A life-threatening illness transmitted to humans through contact with
vector insects (triatomine bugs), ingestion of contaminated food, infected blood
transfusions, congenital transmission, organ transplantation or laboratory accidents.
• Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness): A parasitic infection spread by
the bites of tsetse flies that is almost 100% fatal without prompt diagnosis and
treatment to prevent the parasites invading the central nervous system.
• Leishmaniases: Disease transmitted through the bites of infected female sandflies that
in its most severe (visceral) form attacks the internal organs and in its most prevalent
(cutaneous) form causes face ulcers, disfiguring scars and disability.
• Taeniasis and neurocysticercosis: An infection caused by adult tapeworms in human
intestines; cysticercosis results when humans ingest tapeworm eggs that develop as
larvae in tissues.• Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease): A nematode infection transmitted exclusively
by drinking-water contaminated with parasite-infected water fleas.
• Echinococcosis: Infection caused by the larval stages of tapeworms forming pathogenic
cysts in humans and transmitted when ingesting eggs most commonly shed in faeces of
dogs and wild animals.
• Foodborne trematodiases: Infection acquired by consuming fish, vegetables and
crustaceans contaminated with larval parasites; clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis and
fascioliasis are the main diseases.
• Lymphatic filariasis: Infection transmitted by mosquitoes causing abnormal
enlargement of limbs and genitals from adult worms inhabiting and reproducing in the
lymphatic system.
• Onchocerciasis (river blindness): Infection transmitted by the bite of infected
blackflies causing severe itching and eye lesions as the adult worm produces larvae and
leading to visual impairment and permanent blindness.
• Schistosomiasis: Trematode infections transmitted when larval forms released by
freshwater snails penetrate human skin during contact with infested water.
• Soil-transmitted helminthiases: Nematode infections transmitted through soil
contaminated by human faeces causing anaemia, vitamin A deficiency, stunted growth,
malnutrition, intestinal obstruction and impaired development.
• Mycetoma is a chronic, progressively destructive inflammatory skin disease which
usually affects the lower limbs. Infection is thought to be caused by the inoculation,
through a thorn prick or skin damage, of fungi or bacteria into the subcutaneous tissue.
WHO issues new 10-year plan to end suffering from neglected tropical diseases
• The overarching 2030 global targets are:
o reduce by 90% the number of people requiring treatment for NTDs
o at least 100 countries to have eliminated at least one NTD
o eradicate two diseases (dracunculiasis and yaws)
o reduce by 75% the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to NTD
• Additionally, the road map will track 10 cross-cutting targets and disease specific targets
that includeo a reduction by more than 75% in the number of deaths from vector-borne NTDs
such as dengue, leishmaniasis and others,
o promote full access to basic water supply,
o sanitation and hygiene in areas endemic for NTDs and achieve greater improvement
in collecting and reporting NTD data disaggregated by gender.