Tropical Disease News and Research

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Tropical diseases encompass all diseases that occur solely, or principally, in the tropics. In practice, the term is often taken to refer to infectious diseases that thrive in hot, humid conditions, such as malaria, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, Chagas disease, African trypanosomiasis, and dengue.

More effort needed to reduce risks of mosquito-transmitted epidemics in the U.S. and Mexico

Despite the increasing risks of mosquito-transmitted epidemics in the United States and Mexico, policymakers in both countries have made little effort to prevent future outbreaks, according to a new policy brief by tropical-disease and science policy experts at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

18 Dec 2015

New funding supports research on new and improved drug treatments for tuberculosis, malaria

University of Toronto and McGill University scientists are leading an international partnership to discover new and improved drug treatments for tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases -- thanks to a contribution from Merck Canada Inc., as well as an additional $5 million supplement to a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

17 Dec 2015

Simple diagnostic test can help fight deadly sleeping sickness

Scientists have developed a quick and simple diagnosis method, similar to a dipstick pregnancy test, to fight a deadly sleeping sickness.

16 Dec 2015

WHO launches new comprehensive analysis of global health trends

The World Health Organization (WHO) today launched a new comprehensive analysis of global health trends since 2000 and an assessment of the challenges for the next 15 years.

10 Dec 2015

WHO recommends new strategies to treat HIV patients, reduce new infections

The world is poised to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 – provided it can accelerate the pace of progress achieved globally over the past 15 years, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report.

1 Dec 2015

Risk of developing visceral leishmaniasis much higher in transplant patients

Researchers from Spain have analysed the prevalence of leishmaniasis among the population of organ transplant recipients. The findings of this study, published in the journal 'PLoS Neglected Tropical Disease', confirm that the risk of developing visceral leishmaniasis ‑the most severe form of the disease which can pose life-threatening complications‑ is more than one hundred times greater in transplant patients living in areas of disease outbreak.

25 Nov 2015

Experts call on U.S. and Mexican governments to reduce risk of Chagas disease

Chagas disease -- the third most common parasitic infection in the world -- affects approximately 7.5 million people, mostly in Latin America. To help reduce outbreaks of this disease in their countries, the United States and Mexican governments should implement a range of programs as well as fund research for the development of Chagas vaccines and treatments, according to a new policy brief by tropical-disease and science policy experts at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

3 Nov 2015

UTMB scientists work with InBios International to develop novel diagnostic test for chikungunya

A novel and affordable diagnostic test for chikungunya will soon be available thanks to the work of researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in partnership with a commercial lab.

30 Oct 2015

WHO report reveals significant reduction in TB deaths, but detection, treatment gaps still exist

The fight against tuberculosis is paying off, with this year’s death rate nearly half of what it was in 1990. Nevertheless, 1.5 million people died from TB in 2014. Most of these deaths could have been prevented, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2015, which was released today in Washington, DC.

29 Oct 2015

Snakebite claims thousands of lives every year but remains a 'forgotten killer'

Snakebite claims thousands of lives in the world's poorest communities every year but remains a 'forgotten killer,' according to a new editorial published in the British Medical Journal.

28 Oct 2015

LSTM's health economists sketch out the importance for universal access to medicines

LSTM's health economists Professor Louis Niessen and Dr Jahangir Khan outline the importance for universal access to medicines in the control of neglected diseases, other major infections, and chronic diseases.

22 Oct 2015

Study reveals poor levels of use, availability and affordability of cardiovascular disease medicines worldwide

New research published in The Lancet shows that the use of vital life-saving generic (and supposedly inexpensive) medicines for prevention in people with existing heart disease is poor worldwide. In low-income and middle-income countries these medicines are not widely available and, when available, can often be unaffordable. In rich countries, although such medicines are both available and affordable, 35% to 50% of patients who have heart disease or a previous stroke still do not receive them.

22 Oct 2015

Radical shift required in use of heart medicine worldwide

Many people in the world who need essential heart medicine do not get it, even in rich countries, says new research published today in the medical journal The Lancet.

22 Oct 2015

New report finds tremendous opportunities for TB diagnostics in Brazil, China, India and South Africa

Brazil, China, India and South Africa, which together account for nearly half of all new tuberculosis (TB) cases, offer “tremendous opportunities” for new diagnostics due to their commitment to fight the disease at a time when investments in new technologies are on the increase, according to a new report from FIND, McGill International TB Centre, and UNITAID.

20 Oct 2015

NS1 protein can be considered as vital target for development of new drugs to treat dengue: Study

Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease currently endemic in more than 10 countries. According to the World Health Organization, 390 million people are infected by dengue every year.

7 Oct 2015

UC San Diego-led research team awarded $1.89 million to carry out research on leptospirosis

An international research team, headed by Joseph Vinetz, MD, professor of medicine at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and director of the UC San Diego Center for Tropical Medicine and Travelers Health, has been awarded a 5-year, $1.89 million cooperative agreement to carry out translational research studies of leptospirosis, an infectious and sometimes fatal bacterial disease endemic in much of the world.

2 Sep 2015

60P to commence Phase II clinical trial among dengue fever patients

60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on development of therapeutics for tropical diseases, and Singapore General Hospital announced today that the Hospital has received a grant from Singapore's National Medical Research Council to support a Phase II clinical trial among dengue fever patients.

20 Aug 2015

Researchers receive Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to eliminate neglected tropical diseases

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received a $7 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation aimed at eliminating river blindness and elephantiasis, two neglected tropical diseases that annually sicken millions.

14 Aug 2015

New WFSJ initiative to help journalists report on staggering toll of HCV

The World Federation of Science Journalists is launching a new initiative to help journalists report on the staggering toll of Hepatitis C (HCV) as well as the scientific and political barriers to treating the disease.

29 Jul 2015

Study sheds light on current and potential treatment options for schistosomiasis

In a special free issue of Future Medicinal Chemistry, leading experts explore current and potential new treatment options for the deadly neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis.

28 Jul 2015

Tropical Disease News and Research

Further Reading

More effort needed to reduce risks of mosquito-transmitted epidemics in the U.S. and Mexico

New funding supports research on new and improved drug treatments for tuberculosis, malaria

Simple diagnostic test can help fight deadly sleeping sickness

WHO launches new comprehensive analysis of global health trends

WHO recommends new strategies to treat HIV patients, reduce new infections

Risk of developing visceral leishmaniasis much higher in transplant patients

Experts call on U.S. and Mexican governments to reduce risk of Chagas disease

UTMB scientists work with InBios International to develop novel diagnostic test for chikungunya

WHO report reveals significant reduction in TB deaths, but detection, treatment gaps still exist

Snakebite claims thousands of lives every year but remains a 'forgotten killer'

LSTM's health economists sketch out the importance for universal access to medicines

Study reveals poor levels of use, availability and affordability of cardiovascular disease medicines worldwide

Radical shift required in use of heart medicine worldwide

New report finds tremendous opportunities for TB diagnostics in Brazil, China, India and South Africa

NS1 protein can be considered as vital target for development of new drugs to treat dengue: Study

UC San Diego-led research team awarded $1.89 million to carry out research on leptospirosis

60P to commence Phase II clinical trial among dengue fever patients

Researchers receive Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to eliminate neglected tropical diseases

New WFSJ initiative to help journalists report on staggering toll of HCV

Study sheds light on current and potential treatment options for schistosomiasis

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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