News

Sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, dengue fever, river blindness, rabies, leprosy and Buruli ulcer; in addition to the untold misery these diseases inflict on humans, what else do these infections have in common? They are all classified by the World Health Organization as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

We care about NTDs because they affect more than 1 billion people each year and mostly in the world’s poorest regions. NTDs are caused by a variety of microorganisms and toxins. They are diseases of populations who have limited access to basic services like clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. NTDs are often associated with stigma and social exclusion, and they exacerbate cycles of poor education and under-employment.

Tragically, NTDs are almost absent from the global health agenda and receive little funding, thus research and action to combat these conditions is also neglected.

January 30 is World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day. Today, the World Health Organization reminds us to support growing global efforts to control, eliminate and eradicate these diseases.

At the Doherty Institute, we have several internationally recognised research teams including major research programs to help improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention of NTDs, in particular dengue, leprosy and Buruli ulcer.

Want to learn more? Please refer to the WHO information page: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-ntd-day/2023