All articles tagged with #neglected diseases
Kang-Chun Cheng reports on Andrew Ochieng, a community health worker in East Africa who fights visceral leishmaniasis, a deadly parasitic disease spread by sandflies, through diagnosis, treatment, and community education, highlighting the challenges and progress in combating this neglected disease.
The rise of dengue in Europe poses a public health threat but also presents a market opportunity for dengue vaccines and treatments. However, experts warn that this could exacerbate the access gap for low- and middle-income countries, as pharmaceutical companies may develop tools that are less effective in high-burden countries or wealthy nations may hoard medicines and vaccines. Climate change and migration have allowed mosquitoes that transmit dengue to establish themselves in Europe. While increased investment in neglected diseases is promising, there is concern that the products developed may not be globally relevant or prioritize the needs of countries where dengue is endemic. The mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the potential challenges in ensuring accessibility and affordability of these tools.