Neglected Tropical Disease News and Research

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Plant compounds show promise against leishmaniasis through mitochondrial targeting

Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites, affects millions globally. Current synthetic treatments face limitations including toxicity, cost, and resistance.

28 Jul 2025

Senegal becomes ninth African country to eliminate trachoma

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Senegal as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Senegal becomes the ninth country in WHO's African Region to have achieved this feat.

15 Jul 2025

Burundi eliminates trachoma and sets example for disease control in Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Burundi as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the eighth country in WHO's African Region to reach this important milestone.

11 Jul 2025

WHO Results Report 2024 shows progress on global health goals amid financial uncertainties

The World Health Organization (WHO) Results Report 2024, shows progress on global health goals, even in times of growing financial uncertainties.

12 May 2025

Researchers find immune system proteins involved in severe cases of schistosomiasis

New insights into the mechanisms that cause more severe cases of schistosomiasis - a disease caused by parasitic worms and second only to malaria in terms of potential harm - have been revealed by researchers at Penn State.

21 Apr 2025

Niger becomes first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis

The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Niger for having met the criteria for onchocerciasis elimination, making it the fifth country globally and the first country in Africa to be acknowledged by WHO for interrupting transmission of the parasite Onchocerca volvulus.

31 Jan 2025

WHO applauds Guinea's success in eradicating human African trypanosomiasis

The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Guinea for eliminating the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem.

30 Jan 2025

Brazilian tree compound offers hope for visceral leishmaniasis treatment

A compound derived from Nectandra leucantha, a tree native to southern Brazil (local names canela-seca or canela-branca), has the potential to be used to treat visceral leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease associated with poverty, malnutrition, poor housing and lack of basic sanitation.

7 Jan 2025

Brazil achieves milestone in eliminating lymphatic filariasis

The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Brazil for having eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.

1 Oct 2024

Pioneering study brings leishmaniasis vaccine development closer

Scientists have developed a new, safe and effective way to infect volunteers with the parasite that causes leishmaniasis and measure the body's immune response, bringing a vaccine for the neglected tropical disease a step closer.

2 Aug 2024

Obese children infected with dengue appear to be at higher risk of hospitalization

Very overweight children infected with dengue appear to be at higher risk of hospitalization, according to researchers who say more public awareness is needed about the risks of obesity and severe disease.

23 Jul 2024

Hybrid schistosomes from cattle complicate human disease control

Effective control of bovine schistosomiasis will be required to meet disease elimination targets in humans, new research shows.

26 Jun 2024

WHO commends Chad for eradicating sleeping sickness

The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Chad for having eliminated the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem.

20 Jun 2024

Drug repurposing breakthrough: varespladib curbs snakebite-induced necrosis

Researchers discovered that venom toxins from African spitting cobras cause severe dermonecrosis, highlighting the need for targeted treatments like the repurposed drug varespladib.

9 May 2024

Rapid, easy-to-use diagnostic test could save more lives from melioidosis

Globally, more than half of patients die after infection with the neglected tropical disease, melioidosis, often before they are diagnosed.

13 Mar 2024

Novel drug combinations could protect snakebite victims from devastating injuries

New drug combinations could protect snakebite victims from the devastating, life-changing injuries caused by toxic venom, promising new research led by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine suggests.

14 Dec 2023

Street theater helps educate Malawians about African sleeping sickness

"Parasite Street Science" is a recent public engagement project by Dr Nicola Veitch and a team of scientists of the University of Glasgow that uses exciting street theatre performances to educate and entertain audiences in the UK and Malawi on the subject of African Sleeping Sickness.

6 Jul 2023

Pandemic paralysis: COVID-19 halts neglected tropical disease campaigns, study reveals solutions

In a recent study published in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, researchers evaluated the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on mass drug administration (MDA) programming. They also provided solutions by neglected tropical disease (NTD) stakeholders for the relaunch of MDA implementation activities.

28 Jun 2023

Understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for antimony drug resistance in Leishmania parasites

Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by parasites known as Leishmania, which are transmitted to humans and animals through the bites of more than 90 species of sand flies.

22 Jun 2023

Crystal engineering strategy could make medicines more soluble and palatable for children

Research conducted at University of Limerick in Ireland has shown that crystal engineering can improve access to a drug used in the treatment of a tropical disease affecting millions worldwide.

3 Apr 2023