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“ It was recently estimated that 139 million people in Africa received elephantiasis treatments in 2013. This was made possible by the Mectizan Donation Programme along with the World Health Organisation and the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis.”
optimism that the disease will be eliminated elsewhere.
A plan to eliminate the diseases The discoveries of Campbell and Omura may enable us to eliminate these two diseases some day. But we have a long way to go. For onchocerciasis, there is concern that ivermectin has to be administered for the entire lifespan of the adult parasite, meaning 17 years. This is because ivermectin only targets the microfilarial stages and not the adult worms.
As such, the Drugs for Neglected Tropical Diseases Initiative is working to develop new medicines targeting adult worms. This is in addition to efforts by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. In parallel, the Sabin Vaccine Institute is working with a consortium of partners in the Onchocerciasis Vaccine for Africa Initiative to develop preventative vaccines.
In the meantime, the use of ivermectin in Africa is being expanded by using this medicine as part of a package of“ rapid impact” medicines. This includes three other medicines for intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, and trachoma. All the medicines are donated by major pharmaceutical companies.
With these generous contributions and support from bilateral agencies such as the US Agency for International Development and the UK Department for International Development, more than 450 million people have been treated for neglected tropical diseases worldwide.
These and other partners, including the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases and the END Fund, are now working with the G7 countries to support mass treatment for these diseases of poverty. At the same time, we are developing new vaccines for diseases such as hookworm and schistosomiasis. These activities will occur through the sustainable development goals recently adopted at the UN General Assembly.
We can control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases within a decade. However, it will require continued advocacy, expanded treatment programs and scientific innovations.
Disclosure statement Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, is president of the Sabin Vaccine Institute( Sabin), Texas Children’ s Hospital Endowed Chair for Tropical Pediatrics and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He also serves as U. S. Science Envoy for the White House and State Department.
This article was originally published by The Conversation, October 7, 2015