Posts Tagged ‘elephantiasis’

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Reading List 8/31/2011

August 31st, 2011

Be up to date on the latest happenings in the world of NTDs with our reading list! Today we’re reading about:

In Uganda, Elephantiasis Cases Are Up
“Cases of sleeping sickness, elephantiasis and hydrocele are increasing in Alebtong district. About 30 people have been diagnosed with the neglected tropical diseases and are receiving treatment from Alebtong Health Centre IV.”

Houston Medical Center rising as a global health hub: New star doc & programs gain UN notice
“Whether it’s a cancer breakthrough or the rehabilitation of a congresswoman shot on the job, the Texas Medical Center has a high national profile across nearly every advanced medical discipline. But with prestigious new programs and doctors setting up here, Houston is also making a name for itself in the world of global health initiatives, according to the United Nations Dispatch.”

Rural Areas at Higher Risk of Dengue Fever Than Cities
“In a study led by Wolf-Peter Schmidt from the Nagasaki Institute of Tropical Medicine, Japan, and recently published in PLoS Medicine, the authors analyzed a population in Kanh-Hoa Province in south-central Vietnam (~350,000 people) that was affected by two dengue epidemics between January 2005 and June 2008.”

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LF elimination is possible in the poorest of countries

August 1st, 2011

Infographic of the LF cycle, courtesy of the CDC.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a debilitating neglected tropical disease that affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. Symptoms include abnormal enlargements of body parts and inflammation, resulting in pain and disability. LF, however, can be beat with close surveillance of the progress of the disease among affected populations, as well as widely implementing drug distribution activities such as mass drug administration. Read more about the progress of LF elimination on TropIKA.net, an independent resource from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR).

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New NTD treatment program launches with some help from Miss Brazil

March 28th, 2011

By: Jessica Stuart

Last week, I filmed the launch of an NTD treatment program in Recife, Brazil with the Global Network. Recife is Brazil’s fourth largest city with 1.5 million people, but one million of those people live in poverty.  Brazil has made incredible progress fighting neglected tropical diseases in many areas, but the poorest of the poor are still at risk for NTDs like Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), leprosy and intestinal worms.  As the country grows into a world superpower, cities like Recife are working with partners like the Global Network, PAHO, and Miss Universe to help eliminate the unnecessary pain and suffering caused by NTDs.

Current Miss Brazil Debora Lyra and former Miss Brazil and BAND TV presenter Renata Fan joined the fight last week with a very special visit to the Jose Cordeiro School in Cohab, Recife.

The children were curious about our visit, and when we told them that Miss Brazil was coming, they were excited. They had so many questions. Why is this happening at their school? Why are they special? Why now?

The school is part of an important outreach effort taking place. Teachers are working to educate the children about NTDs. Most of all, they are there to let the children know that these diseases are PREVENTABLE.   And elimination is possible, especially when you start with a child.  If you can teach a child, a child can bring the knowledge home to a family.

» Read more: New NTD treatment program launches with some help from Miss Brazil

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Nepalese Gov’t to Administer Elephantiasis Medicine

March 16th, 2011

The Rising Nepal released a piece highlighting The Nepalese Government’s plan to launch a major vaccination campaign for the first round of elephantiasis vaccines in 40 districts that are at high risk of elephantiasis.  The campaign will be out by community health workers who will spearhead door-to-door distribution of the medicine over the next 6 years. District Public Health Officer Dhirjung Shah stated that over 3,000 people have been diagnosed with elephantiasis and he plans to lead discussion programs around the country to build awareness surrounding the epidemiology of elephantiasis

It has been estimated that Banke district is at the high risk of elephantiasis as 106 (53 percent) out of 200 sample tests conducted a year ago in Rajhena and Bankatawa VDCs were found infected by the disease.

Elephantiasis is found in over 82 countries and approximately 1.04 million people have been diagnosed with the disease.  Tests show that the infection is usually contracted in childhood and develops into a disease later in life.  The filarial infection is mosquito-borne and several different clinical manifestations such as genital enlargement, high fevers, and lymphoedema of limbs, typically from the waist down.

Elephatiasis, or lymphatic filariasis, is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) and according to World Health Organization (WHO) “during the period of 2000 – 2009 about 2.7 billion treatments were delivered to more than 695 million of individuals.” Intervention and education are key to preventing infections and derailing severe future illnesses.

Congratulations to Nepal for their campaign against elephantiasis!

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