Sleeping Sickness     Guinea Worm Disease

The Global Burden of NTDs: One billion people-mostly in developing nations-are afflicted by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). These diseases claim about 1.8 million lives each year1 and take a high social and economic toll on the affected populations causing physical incapacitation that limits school attendance and impairs work productivity at a cost of more than $10 billion annually2. The global burden of NTDs is equivalent to at least half of that of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria3. The WHO has classified 14 diseases under NTDs-Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, cholera/epidemic diarrhoeal diseases, dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever, dracunculiasis (guinea-worm), endemic treponematoses (yaws, pinta, endemic syphilis), human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciais, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and trachoma. NTDs have long been eliminated from the wealthier nations but these debilitating diseases continue to haunt more than 100 of the poorest nations in Africa, Asia, and South and Central America. These diseases are called "neglected" as they persist solely in the poverty-stricken areas and are low on priority as compared to other high mortality diseases. Moreover, NTDs cannot travel easily and pose less threat to the developed world. Most of the NTDs can be prevented or cured; others like Guinea worm disease and sleeping sickness can even be eradicated. But unfortunately, NTDs do not represent a lucrative market for medicines-it is estimated that "less than 1% of the 1393 new drugs registered between 1975 and1999 were for tropical diseases4." A growing body of evidence demonstrates that control of these diseases can contribute directly to the achievement of several Millennium Development Goals. Public-Private Initiatives to Alleviate the Burden of NTDs: NTDs can be prevented, cured or eradicated through the common agendas of both public and private concerns. Combined efforts can generate sufficient funding as well as right tools to lift the global burden of these diseases. President Bush's Initiative This initiative is primarily targeted at reducing the prevalence of seven NTDs, namely lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma, onchocerciasis and three soil-transmitted helminthes (STHs - hookworm, roundworm and whipworm). For this, $350 million have been set aside to provide integrated treatment to more than 300 million people in Africa, Asia and Latin America over a period of five years (FY 2009- FY 2013). Vestergaard Frandsen's Initiative Vestergaard Frandsen innovates for the developing world. With our preventive tools portfolio encompassing vector-borne and waterborne diseases, we aim at targeting all preventable diseases, including neglected diseases. The preventive interventions offered by Vestergaard Frandsen have the potential to combat 9 out of the 14 NTDs identified by the WHO. Chagas disease Also known as American trypanosomiasis, the disease occurs in Central and South America, mostly in poverty-stricken regions. Transmitted by infected triatomine bugs at night, parasites that cause Chagas disease can cause severe heart and intestinal damage. If untreated, infection stays lifelong and may be passed from pregnant mothers to their unborn children. PermaNet® Long Lasting Insecticidal Bed Nets and Curtains prevent the disease vectors from transmitting this disease. Cholera/epidemic diarrhoeal diseases Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Transmission occurs through direct faecal-oral contamination or through ingestion of contaminated water and food. Cholera is an extremely virulent disease that affects both children and adults. Unlike other diarrhoeal diseases, it can kill healthy adults within hours. Individuals with compromised immune systems such as malnourished children or people living with HIV, are at greater risk of death if infected by cholera. Transmission of Vibrio cholerae via contaminated water can be controlled by the use of LifeStraw® and LifeStraw® Family water purifiers. Dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever Transmitted by day-biting mosquitoes, dengue causes fever and illness for the more than 50 million people who are affected each year. This disease has grown exponentially in recent years, and is endemic in over 100 countries. While there is no medication available for the treatment of dengue, studies have shown excellent results with the use of insecticide-treated curtains. PermaNet® Long Lasting Insecticidal Curtains have been developed to combat this disease. Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease) Dracunculus medinensis is the parasite responsible for causing this disease. When infected water is consumed, these worms grow to several feet in length in the victim's body. Once mature, the Guinea worms make their way out through painful skin blisters, taking two or three months to fully emerge. Due to an ambitious Carter Center program in which Vestergaard Frandsen's Guinea Worm Disease and Family Cloth Filter are used to capture the Guinea worm larvae from entering drinking water, Guinea worm disease is on track to be eradicated. Its global burden has already been reduced by 99%, from over 3.5 million in the 1980's to only 10,000 in 2005. Human African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness) This is a vector-borne parasitic disease that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tsetse fly. In some African communities, particularly in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, sleeping sickness has become the greatest cause of mortality, even surpassing HIV/AIDS5. Vestergaard Frandsen's Tsetse Traps and Targets are insecticide-impregnated traps and screens that function by attracting the tsetse flies to the fabric that traps and/or kills them, thereby reducing the tsetse fly population. Leishmaniasis Sandflies are the vector responsible for the spread of leishmaniasis, a serious disease which has been grossly underestimated in the past. It is estimated that at any given time, 12 million individuals are infected with leishmaniasis, causing disfiguring skin lesions, which inflict psychological trauma and social stigma on its victims. Many women who suffer from its effects are ostracized from their communities, unable to work or support their families. Those with visceral leishmaniasis, known as kala azar, can have a fatality rate as high as 100% within two years if left untreated. The use of PermaNet® Long Lasting Insecticidal Bed Nets and Curtains as well as ZeroFly® insecticide incorporated plastic sheeting can prevent the threat of Leishmaniasis. Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis) This disease has already affected more than 120 million people, over 40 million of which are seriously incapacitated and disfigured. One-third of the infected people live in India, another one-third in Africa and the remainder in South Asia, the Pacific and the Americas. This disease spreads when larval worms pass from the mosquito into the human skin, where they travel to the lymph vessels. Once the worms have reached their adult stage, they make nests, which cause fever and painful swelling of the extremities. The use of PermaNet® Long Lasting Insecticidal Bed Nets and Curtains can prevent needless pain and suffering caused by this disease. Soil-transmitted helminthes (including hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm) These diseases are transmitted through contact with faeces or unclean water and affect more than two billion people worldwide. Hookworm alone is estimated to affect 740 million people globally and can lead to anemia and malnutrition, thereby impairing physical and intellectual development, reducing school performance and attendance, and adversely affecting future productivity and wage-earning potential. If infected during pregnancy, this disease can lead to low birth weight, impaired milk production and increased risk of death for both mother and child. Vestergaard Frandsen offers a diagnostic tool called Kato Katz Kit, which is used for testing stool for indication of hookworm, roundworm or whipworm. Though it is not a preventive tool, it can help derive easy diagnosis for patients to receive timely treatment. Trachoma An infection of the eyes, Trachoma is a cause of preventable blindness. The infection spreads through the discharge from an infected child's eyes-via hands, clothing or flies (that land on the face of the infected individual). ZeroFly® insecticide incorporated plastic sheeting has the potential to kill and repel the flies responsible for spreading this infection. References: 1 WHO 2 http://www.neglectedtropicaldiseases.org/pdf/ghcinfo.pdf 3 WHO 4 P. Trouiller, P. Olliaro, E. Torreele, J. Orbinski, R. Laing, N. Ford. Drug development for neglected diseases:    a deficient market and a public-health policy failure. Lancet, Volume 359, Issue 9324, Pages 2188-2194 5 http://jcs.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/118/2/283