Poor countries have little money to make known their plight to the rest of the world. To make the voices of despair heart around the world the Neglected Tropical Disease Coalition (NTDC) was formed. The NTDC is made up of individual disease alliances, as well as international agencies, their corporate partners, interested academic institutions, some faith-based groups, and also non-governmental organizations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and also the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify diseases that are "targets of opportunity" with the purpose of improving global health. The six diseases mentioned earlier are being targeted to help control or to eliminate the diseases altogether. What will make this possible is the joint effort of all the participants in NTDC to cooperate with scientific breakthroughs and corporate philanthropic efforts to fund research and treatment programs. Success can almost be seen in the treatment of trachoma in Morocco and leprosy has declined globally. When disease is irradiated in these countries, the citizens become more productive and the global economy improves. This is why all countries industrial or poor should care about these neglected tropical diseases. Improved economies have an impact on the global economy because of world trade. Financial impact and the health of local residents is not the only concern. International travelers, many those who are called to serve are also greatly at risk to contract these neglected tropical diseases.
There is no treatment for chronic chagas disease but acute illness can be shortened with nifurtimox which has some severe side effects to it. Two other medications that can be taken for chagas disease in the acute stage is benznidazol or ragonil.
The best way to avoid getting cholera is to avoid eating raw or undercooked food and also avoid eating reheated foods or seafood, especially ceviche.
Tropical Infectious Diseases: Principles, Pathogens, & Practice (2-Volume Set) |
These neglected tropical diseases not only have an impact on the citizens of the poor countries where they are found, but any individual traveling to those countries are at risk for exposure to these tropical diseases including missionaries, and also volunteers with the peace corps. These individuals deserve the opportunity to serve without being exposed to these neglected diseases.
The statistics are sad and should be alarming to everyone. 3 billion children, women and men are at risk from these 6 neglected tropical diseases. 350 million individuals have already been disabled or impaired severely by exposure to these neglected tropical diseases.
The cost to work productivity is $10 billion annually or more. This loss represents revenue that could have boosted the country out of poverty and enabled it to become productive in the global economy.
The ability to diagnose, treat and even prevent these 6 diseases exists; the goal to eliminate these diseases is real.
There are low or no-cost medications available from four of the major pharmaceutical companies, namely - GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis, and Pfizer who have already donated drugs and cash support.
Treatment intervals that are community based is possible which will offer the ability to combine treatments that will be more cost effective and have a greater impact on more of the population.
The cost for community-wide treatment of these 6 diseases ranges from just a few cents to a few dollars per individual.
There are in existence the tools, local and national support to rid these countries of the diseases.
This means that the tools and opportunity exist to address the issue of neglected tropical diseases, it remains the responsibility of individuals, corporations and countries to take action.
Tropical Disease Dangers!
01/04/2008
Insect attack finished off dinosaurs? (rediff.com)
According to the theory profounded by Professor George Poinar of the Oregon State University and his wife Roberta, the demise of the dinosaurs and the rise and evolution of the insects, particularly the biting and disease-carriers, are linked to each other.
Insect attack finished off dinosaurs? (rediff.com)
01/04/2008
Did Insects Kill the Dinosaurs? (Slashdot)
Ponca City, We Love You writes "Asteroid impacts, massive volcanic flows, and now biting, disease-carrying insects have been put forward as an important contributor to the demise of the dinosaurs. In the Late Cretaceous the world was covered with warm-temperate to tropical areas that swarmed with blood-sucking insects. A theory explored by researchers at Oregon State suggests these bugs carried ...
Did Insects Kill the Dinosaurs? (Slashdot)
01/06/2008
'Ghost' details division's grueling trek (Chicago Sun-Times)
Sometimes you see it written in a fiction review that the geographical setting is as much of a character in the novel as the actual characters. This observation can be extended to nonfiction as well, for in James Campbell's superb The Ghost Mountain Boys, the island of New Guinea is one of the most fearsome characters you will ever want to come across, in fiction or real life.
'Ghost' details division's grueling trek (Chicago Sun-Times)
01/04/2008
Did Insects Kill the Dinosaurs? (Slashdot)
Ponca City, We Love You writes "Asteroid impacts, massive volcanic flows, and now biting, disease-carrying insects have been put forward as an important contributor to the demise of the dinosaurs. In the Late Cretaceous the world was covered with warm-temperate to tropical areas that swarmed with blood-sucking insects. A theory explored by researchers at Oregon State suggests these bugs carried ...
Did Insects Kill the Dinosaurs? (Slashdot)
01/06/2008
'Ghost' details division's grueling trek (Chicago Sun-Times)
Sometimes you see it written in a fiction review that the geographical setting is as much of a character in the novel as the actual characters. This observation can be extended to nonfiction as well, for in James Campbell's superb The Ghost Mountain Boys, the island of New Guinea is one of the most fearsome characters you will ever want to come across, in fiction or real life.
'Ghost' details division's grueling trek (Chicago Sun-Times)
01/05/2008
USAID-Funded Neglected Tropical Disease Control Program Treats More Than 14 Million People During First Year (Medical News Today)
In its first year of operations, the U.S. Agency for International Development-funded Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Control Program has coordinated and monitored the distribution of medicines to more than 14 million people in four African nations.
USAID-Funded Neglected Tropical Disease Control Program Treats More Than 14 Million People During First Year (Medical News Today)
01/04/2008
Did Insects Kill the Dinosaurs? (Slashdot)
Ponca City, We Love You writes "Asteroid impacts, massive volcanic flows, and now biting, disease-carrying insects have been put forward as an important contributor to the demise of the dinosaurs. In the Late Cretaceous the world was covered with warm-temperate to tropical areas that swarmed with blood-sucking insects. A theory explored by researchers at Oregon State suggests these bugs carried ...
Did Insects Kill the Dinosaurs? (Slashdot)
01/04/2008
Did Insects Kill the Dinosaurs? (Slashdot)
Ponca City, We Love You writes "Asteroid impacts, massive volcanic flows, and now biting, disease-carrying insects have been put forward as an important contributor to the demise of the dinosaurs. In the Late Cretaceous the world was covered with warm-temperate to tropical areas that swarmed with blood-sucking insects. A theory explored by researchers at Oregon State suggests these bugs carried ...
Did Insects Kill the Dinosaurs? (Slashdot)
01/06/2008
'Ghost' details division's grueling trek (Chicago Sun-Times)
Sometimes you see it written in a fiction review that the geographical setting is as much of a character in the novel as the actual characters. This observation can be extended to nonfiction as well, for in James Campbell's superb The Ghost Mountain Boys, the island of New Guinea is one of the most fearsome characters you will ever want to come across, in fiction or real life.
'Ghost' details division's grueling trek (Chicago Sun-Times)
Read This Before Your Next Tropical Vacation
Prepare for the Germs