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World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2022
Achieving health equity to end the neglect of poverty-related diseases
On 31 May 2021, the World Health Assembly (WHA) recognized 30 January as World Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Day through decision WHA74(18).
This decision formalized 30 January as a day to create better awareness on the devastating impact of NTDs on the poorest populations around the world. The day is also an opportunity to call on everyone to support the growing momentum for the control, elimination and eradication of these diseases.
Despite COVID-19, a total of 757 million people received NTD treatment in 2020.
More than 1 billion are affected by NTDs. In total, 1.7 billion need preventive treatment every year.
Unprecedented progress has been achieved. 43 countries have eliminated at least one
Brief summary
World NTD Day 2022
Buruli ulcer
A debilitating mycobacterial skin infection causes severe destruction of the skin, bone and soft tissue.
Chagas Disease
A life-threatening protozoan illness is transmitted to humans through contact with vector insects (triatomine bugs), ingestion of contaminated food, infected blood transfusions, congenital transmission, organ transplantation or laboratory accidents.
Dengue and chikungunya
Two mosquito-borne, outbreak-prone viral conditions cause a flu-like illness that can be associated with severe, painful and disabling symptoms and, in the case of dengue, may cause shock, haemorrhage and death.
Dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease)
Helminth infection is transmitted exclusively by drinking water contaminated with parasite-infected water fleas; one year later, adult female worms painfully ulcerate through the skin, often of the legs, in order to expel their larvae.
Echinococcosis
A disease caused by the larval stages of tapeworms forming pathogenic cysts in human organs, acquired by ingesting eggs most commonly shed in the faeces of dogs and wild animals.
Foodborne trematodiases
A group of infectious diseases acquired by consuming fish, crustaceans and vegetables contaminated with larval parasites; clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, paragonimiasis and fascioliasis are the most common.
Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
A protozoan infection spread by the bites of tsetse flies is almost 100% fatal without prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent the parasites from invading the central nervous system.
Leishmaniases
A group of protozoan diseases transmitted through the bites of infected female sandflies; the most severe (visceral) form attacks the internal organs and in its most prevalent (cutaneous) form causes skin ulcers, disfiguring scars and disability.
Leprosy
A complex disease caused by infection with a slow-growing bacterium, mainly affecting the skin, peripheral nerves and eyes.
Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
A helminth infection transmitted by mosquitoes and resulting in adult worms inhabiting and reproducing in the lymphatic system; it is associated with recurrent painful inflammation and abnormal enlargement of limbs and genitals.
Mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses
Chronic, progressively destructive inflammatory diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissues usually affect the lower limbs. People become infected when injuries break the skin and allow fungi (and bacteria in the case of mycetoma) to enter the body.
Onchocerciasis (river blindness)
A helminth infection transmitted by the bite of infected blackflies causes severe itching and eye lesions as the adult worm produces larvae eventually leading to visual impairment and permanent blindness.
Rabies
A preventable viral disease transmitted to humans through the bites of infected animals, especially dogs, that is invariably fatal once symptoms develop.
Scabies and other ectoparasitoses
A group of infestations of the skin caused by mites, fleas or lice; scabies occurs when the human itch mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs, causing intense itching and rash.
Schistosomiasis (bilharzia)
A group of trematode infections is acquired when larval forms released by freshwater snails penetrate human skin during contact with infested water; schistosomiasis is typically associated with liver and urogenital pathology.
Snakebite envenoming
A potentially life-threatening condition caused by toxins injected through the bite of a venomous snake, often responsible for acute medical emergencies. Envenoming can also be caused by having venom sprayed into the eyes by certain species of snakes
Soil-transmitted helminthiases
Helminth infections are transmitted through soil contaminated by human faeces; they cause anaemia, vitamin A deficiency, stunted growth, malnutrition, intestinal obstruction and impaired development.
Taeniasis and cysticercosis
Taeniasis is caused by adult tapeworms in human intestines; cysticercosis results when humans ingest tapeworm eggs that develop as larvae in tissues, including the brain (neurocysticercosis).
Trachoma
A bacterial infection is transmitted through direct contact with the infectious eye or nasal discharge, and associated with unsafe living conditions and hygiene practices; if left untreated, it causes irreversible corneal opacities and blindness.
Yaws
A chronic, disfiguring bacterial disease affecting mainly the skin and bone. Other endemic treponematoses similar to yaws are also considered NTDs
Sources WHO
