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.

UiA research project develops mobile app to combat world’s most neglected tropical diseases

A research project at UiA is working to combat one of the world’s most neglected tropical diseases. A mobile app has now been developed to train healthcare workers in Africa to detect the disease.

14 Aug 2026

National scabies control program drastically reduces parasitic skin disease in Pacific nations

A world-first scabies control program has drastically reduced cases of the highly contagious parasitic skin disease in Solomon Islands and Fiji, according to a new study.

29 Jul 2026

Study detects early warning signs of schistosomiasis drug resistance

Scientists have identified genetic changes in wild populations of the parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis which may reduce its response to praziquantel, the only available treatment.

17 Jul 2026

WHO validates El Salvador for eliminating trachoma as public health problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated El Salvador as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Trachoma is the world's leading infectious cause of blindness.

14 Jul 2026

Overlooked parasitic disease linked to HIV and cervical cancer risk

New research from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) has highlighted the need to test millions of women and girls for female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), a neglected disease that can increase the risk of chronic illness, HIV and cervical cancer.

3 Jul 2026

Researchers urge expanded testing for neglected female genital schistosomiasis

2 Jul 2026

Experts urge neglected tropical disease status for ocular toxoplasmosis

One third of the world's population is infected with the Toxoplasma parasite, which can cause ocular toxoplasmosis, an eye infection that can damage the retina and result in permanent vision loss.

25 Jun 2026

PAHO and The Carter Center join hands on the elimination of onchocerciasis across the Americas

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and The Carter Center signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement today to strengthen collaboration on the elimination of onchocerciasis — also known as river blindness — and other communicable diseases in the Americas.

21 May 2026

Targeting a parasite-specific enzyme offers new hope for malaria treatment

Research published in The FEBS Journal may help overcome challenges to the treatment of malaria-a tropical disease caused by infection of red blood cells with Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted through infected mosquito bites.

6 May 2026

Algeria eliminates trachoma as a public health problem after decades of effort

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Algeria as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the 10th country in WHO's African Region and the 29th country globally to achieve this significant milestone.

24 Apr 2026

Chile verified as leprosy free after decades of public health efforts

The World Health Organization (WHO), together with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), congratulates Chile for becoming the first country in the Americas – and the second globally – to be officially verified as having eliminated leprosy disease.

4 Mar 2026

WHO validates Libya’s success in eliminating trachoma nationwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that Libya has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, a landmark victory for public health in WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region.

19 Feb 2026

WHO addresses the mental health impacts of neglected tropical diseases

A major new World Health Organization publication sets out, for the first time, a practical, evidence-based package of care to address the mental health impacts of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and the stigma that can prevent people from seeking care and participating fully in society.

4 Feb 2026

Researchers uncover how Bartonella causes deadly Oroya fever

The so-called "Oroya fever" is an extremely severe infectious disease, yet it is classified among the so-called neglected tropical diseases.

15 Dec 2025

Egypt achieves milestone in eliminating trachoma as a public health problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that Egypt has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a historic public health milestone for the country and WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO EMR). It is the seventh country in WHO EMR to achieve this milestone.

12 Nov 2025

Researchers use genetic engineering to create “product-ready” snakebite antivenom

An international team of researchers has used genetic engineering to create the first ever “product-ready” antivenom for snakes such as cobras and mambas.

4 Nov 2025

WHO congratulates Fiji on eliminating trachoma as a public health threat

In a landmark public health achievement, Fiji has been validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.

20 Oct 2025

Yale researchers develop new test for early leptospirosis detection

In a new study, Yale School of Medicine (YSM) researchers unveiled a novel diagnostic method for detecting leptospiral virulence-modifying (VM) proteins in the blood and urine of hamsters, an advance that could pave the way for early diagnosis of the tropical disease leptospirosis in humans and improved treatment options.

29 Sep 2025

Groundbreaking discovery could transform leishmaniasis treatment

Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease prevalent across 90 countries, affects approximately 12 million people worldwide, with 350 million more at risk of infection.

24 Sep 2025

How a Réunion Island outbreak sparked France’s record chikungunya season

Mainland France recorded its earliest-ever local chikungunya outbreaks in May 2025, with 10 clusters (27 cases) across five regions, driven by travelers importing the virus from Réunion Island. The surge highlights growing vulnerability to mosquito-borne diseases in Europe as Aedes albopictus expands northward.

18 Aug 2025