The Threat of Neglected Tropical Diseases

Did you know that around one billion people suffer from a neglected tropical disease? There are a number of very different diseases in this category, which includes illnesses you’ve probably have heard of, like leprosy, and others you haven’t, like Echinococcosis. These diseases are caused by many different microorganisms, and often strike communities that don’t have access to clean water or proper preventive health measures. As the video illustrates, they can have a horrible impact.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken a number of steps in recent years to try to reduce the impact of these illnesses. They are creating a systematic way to define these disorders, and hopefully, draw more attention to treating them. There has also been a little progress in eradicating some of these illnesses.

Source: WHO