Neglected tropical diseases
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) blight the lives of a billion people worldwide and threaten the health of millions more. These ancient companions of poverty weaken impoverished populations, frustrate the achievement of health in the Millennium Development Goals and impede global public health outcomes. An evaluation of their significance to public health and economies has convinced governments, donors, the pharmaceutical industry and other agencies, including nongovernmental organizations, to invest in preventing and controlling this diverse group of diseases.
fact buffet
Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease)
99%The decrease in the number of new cases of dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) since 1989
Analysis of situation and trendsPreventive chemotherapy
728 millionThe number of people that have been reached by preventive chemotherapy for at least one disease in 2011
WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record, 11 January 2013pdf, 1.01Mb
Human African trypanosomiasis
76%The decrease in the reported number of cases of human African trypanosomiasis from 1999–2011
Analysis of situation and trends
