More than 1 billion people are affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This is the collective term given to a number of different parasitic and bacterial infections.
NTDs include lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness), schistosomiasis (bilharzia) and dracunculiasis (guinea worm).
Collectively they cause half a million deaths every year worldwide. They cause disability and disfigurement with some patients suffering from enormous stigma, as well as having severe economic and social effects at family and community level.
Neglected tropical diseases tend to affect the poorest people located in the hardest to reach areas, often in remote or conflict zones. These are places where there is little to no access to health or water and sanitation services.
Many neglected tropical diseases can be prevented or even eliminated with proven, highly cost effective interventions. A package of interventions can cost as little as $0.40 per person per year in Africa.
Our approach to diseases and treatment
Neglected tropical diseases have largely been eliminated and forgotten in rich countries, but still affect many people worldwide. The scale of the challenge requires a global response including from affected countries themselves.
In September 2008, we announced a £50m commitment over five years for neglected tropical diseases. We are working with others to engage wider donor and partner country support.
The major diseases
Elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) is characterised by extreme swelling of the skin and underlying tissue. It is caused by parasitic worms living in the human lymphatic system. More than 120 million people are infected with elephantiasis and 40 million have been seriously incapacitated or disfigured.
We have given continuous support to tackle the disease since 1998, including a £10m allocation to lymphatic filariasis elimination through the Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
The mass administration of drugs to 28 million people in 12 project countries in Africa and Asia will help support control of lymphatic filariasis, and will eventually lead to elimination in those countries.
River blindness (onchocerciasis) is one of the leading causes of infectious blindness and eye disease as well as causing severe skin lesions. It is caused by a parasitic worm transmitted by blackflies which live at larval stages in fast flowing rivers hence the name “river blindness”.
It is responsible for 500,000 cases of blindness or visual impairment. While it mostly occurs in Africa, it is also active in parts of Latin America and the Yemen.
We have long supported the African control programmes. By 2006 they had already protected 92 million people. The target is to eliminate the disease as a public health problem by 2020.
The UK’s support will help treat almost 25 million people over four years and prevent over 11,000 cases of blindness each year.
Guinea worm (dracunculiasis) is contracted when people drink contaminated drinking water. Approximately one year later, the disease presents with a painful, burning sensation as the worm forms a blister, usually on the lower limb. As the worm moves downwards, towards the lower leg, it leads to intense burning pain.
There is good progress on the eradicatation of Guinea worm. In 2010 there were fewer than 2000 cases – restricted to a few countries in Africa – down from 3.5 million in 1996. The purpose of DFID's support is to help achieve zero cases by 2015.
We allocated £10m to Guinea worm eradication; funding which is shared between the Carter Center and the World Health Organisation. Our grant was matched by the Gates Foundation.
Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is a chronic infectious disease caused by a parasitic worm which lives in human blood vessels and causes cumulative damage to various organs over many years.
It affects 200 million people, mostly in Africa. It is responsible for about 200,000 deaths a year - mainly adults who have developed severe symptoms over many years.
The DFID programme that started in 2010 aims to deliver treatments to about 75 million people and avert more than ten million infections.
Research programmes
We support the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) to develop new drugs for a range of major neglected tropical diseases including visceral leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease.
We also support the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) to develop new diagnostic tools for a number of diseases including human African trypanosomiasis.
We are also long term supporters of the Tropical Disease Research Special Research Programme based at the World Health Organisation. This undertakes a wide range of different research programmes relevant to neglected tropical diseases including onchocerciasis, lympahtic filariasis, soil transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis, human African trypanosomiasis, visceral leismaniasis and leprosy.