WHO Interim Guidelines for the Treatment of Gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis
WHO Interim Guidelines for the Treatment of Gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis

Author: World Health Organization

Publisher:

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13:

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Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is a parasitic infection that is almost invariably fatal unless treated. It is a neglected tropical disease that occurs in sub-Saharan Africa. The incidence of the disease is declining in response to intensive surveillance and control in endemic areas. As a result, HAT is among the neglected tropical diseases targeted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for elimination. WHO maintains exhaustive records of all declared cases; in 2018, a historically low number of cases (less than 1000) was reported. The remarkable progress in the control of gambiense HAT has relied on case-finding and curative treatment, a strategy that interrupts transmission by depleting the reservoir of parasites in humans. This has been combined occasionally with vector control activities. The subject of these guidelines, therefore, is of utmost importance for the continuation of progress to eliminate HAT. The recent approval of a new medicine (fexinidazole) for the treatment of gambiense HAT has opened new possibilities for the management of cases and thus warrants the new WHO recommendations contained herein. While studies of fexinidazole and other therapies are ongoing, these guidelines are considered interim guidelines until new information becomes available. This document focuses on the management of patients affected by gambiense HAT and constitutes an update to the WHO therapeutic guidance issued in 2013.

Guidelines for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis
Guidelines for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis

Author: World Health Organization

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2024-06-28

Total Pages: 50

ISBN-13: 9240096035

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WHO has issued new guidelines for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, a fatal disease provoked by a parasitic infection, transmitted by the bite of infected tsetse flies in sub-Saharan Africa. The recent development of a new molecule (fexinidazole) presents an opportunity to improve the therapeutic options. WHO has invested in following these developments, in commissioning independent evidence reviews, and in convening experts to develop new guidelines that reconfigure the therapeutic choices by giving new roles to this new molecule and the previously existing ones, in order to offer the best treatment possible for each type of patient. These guidelines are for the treatment of both disease forms: gambiense HAT, the slowly progressing form, caused by infection with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, in western and central Africa; and rhodesiense HAT, the more rapidly progressive form, caused by T. b. rhodesiense, in eastern and southern Africa. They supersede the WHO interim guidelines for the treatment of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis, issued in 2019.

Investing to Overcome the Global Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases
Investing to Overcome the Global Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases

Author: World Health Organization

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2015-08-05

Total Pages: 211

ISBN-13: 9241564865

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"The presence, or absence, of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) can be seen as a proxy for poverty and for the success of interventions aimed at reducing poverty. Today, coverage of the public-health interventions recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) against NTDs may be interpreted as a proxy for universal health coverage and shared prosperity - in short, a proxy for coverage against neglect. As the world's focus shifts from development to sustainable development, from poverty eradication to shared prosperity, and from disease-specific goals to universal health coverage, control of NTDs will assume an important role towards the target of achieving universal health coverage, including individual financial risk protection. Success in overcoming NTDs is a "litmus test" for universal health coverage against NTDs in endemic countries. The first WHO report on NTDs (2010) set the scene by presenting the evidence for how these interventions had produced results. The second report (2013) assessed the progress made in deploying them and detailed the obstacles to their implementation. This third report analyses for the first time the investments needed to achieve the scale up of implementation required to achieve the targets of the WHO Roadmap on NTDs and universal coverage against NTDs. INVESTING TO OVERCOME THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES presents an investment strategy for NTDs and analyses the specific investment case for prevention, control, elimination and eradication of 12 of the 17 NTDs. Such an analysis is justified following the adoption by the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly in 2013 of resolution WHA6612 on neglected tropical diseases, which called for sufficient and predictable funding to achieve the Roadmap's targets and sustain control efforts. The report cautions, however, that it is wise investment and not investment alone that will yield success. The report registers progress and challenges and signals those that lie ahead. Climate change is expected to increase the spread of several vector-borne NTDs, notably dengue, transmission of which is directly influenced by temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and climate variability primarily through their effects on the vector. Investments in vector-borne diseases will avoid the potentially catastrophic expenditures associated with their control. The presence of NTDs will thereby signal an early warning system for climate-sensitive diseases. The ultimate goal is to deliver enhanced and equitable interventions to the most marginalized populations in the context of a changing public-health and investment landscape to ensure that all peoples affected by NTDs have an opportunity to lead healthier and wealthier lives."--Publisher's description.

Report of the fifth WHO stakeholders meeting on gambiense and rhodesiense human African trypanosomiasis elimination, Geneva, Switzerland, 7-9 June 2023
Report of the fifth WHO stakeholders meeting on gambiense and rhodesiense human African trypanosomiasis elimination, Geneva, Switzerland, 7-9 June 2023

Author: World Health Organization

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2024-05-03

Total Pages: 111

ISBN-13: 9240091238

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Concerted efforts by national programmes, supported by public–private partnerships, nongovernmental organizations, donors and academia under the auspices and coordination of the World Health Organization (WHO), have produced important achievements in the control of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). As a consequence, the disease was targeted for elimination as a public health problem by 2020. The Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly endorsed this goal in resolution WHA66.12 on Neglected tropical diseases, adopted in 2013. National sleeping sickness control programmes (NSSCPs) are core to progressing in the control of the disease and in adapting to the different epidemiological situations. The involvement of different partners, as well as the support and trust of long-term donors, has been crucial for these achievements. More than 20 years of partnership among WHO, Sanofi and Bayer have enabled WHO to strengthen and sustain financial, technical and material support for the implementation of control activities in countries where HAT is endemic. The long-term support from the Government of Belgium, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and other research institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has also been essential. WHO convened the fifth stakeholders meeting on the elimination of HAT due to infection with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (g-HAT) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (r-HAT) in Geneva, Switzerland, on 7–9 June 2023. The meeting was held again in person after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and jointly for both forms of the disease. The previous meetings on g-HAT held in 2014, 2016 and 2018, as well as on r-HAT in 2015, 2017 and 2019, and jointly for g-HAT and r-HAT in 2021 (8) reinforced the partnership and commitment for HAT elimination and structured the mechanisms of collaboration within the WHO network for HAT elimination. The network includes NSSCPs, groups developing new tools, international and nongovernmental organizations involved in disease control, and donors. Fewer than 1000 cases of HAT annually have been reported over the past 5 years, which is a historic achievement. The area at risk has been substantially reduced. The elimination of HAT as a public health problem at the global level has been achieved. The new road map for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) 2021−2030 (“the road map”) with the target to interrupt the transmission of g-HAT requires the strengthened and sustained efforts of all stakeholders, national authorities and partners, under WHO coordination. It will take disproportionally high efforts and innovative strategies to find the last cases of g-HAT and neutralize its transmission. Given the limited resources and other competing public health priorities, this is a challenge that requires our joint commitment.

Communicable Disease Control in Emergencies
Communicable Disease Control in Emergencies

Author: World Health Organization

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13: 9789241546164

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This field manual is intended to help health professionals and public health coordinators working in emergency situations prevent, detect and control the major communicable diseases encountered by affected populations. The manual is the result of collaboration among a number of WHO departments and several external partner agencies in reviewing existing guidelines on communicable disease control and adapting them to emergency situations. The manual deals with the fundamental principles of communicable disease control in emergencies, which are: Rapid assessment to identify the communicable disease threats faced by the emergency-affected population, including those with epidemic potential, and define the health status of the population by conducting a rapid assessment; Prevention to prevent communicable disease by maintaining a healthy physical environment and good general living conditions; Surveillance to set up or strengthen disease surveillance system with an early warning mechanism to ensure the early reporting of cases to monitor disease trends, and to facilitate prompt detection and response to outbreaks; outbreak control to ensure outbreaks are rapidly detected and controlled through adequate preparedness (i.e. stockpiles, standard treatment protocols and staff training) and rapid response (i.e.confirmation, investigation and implementation of control measures); and disease management to diagnose and treat cases promptly with trained staff using effective treatment and standard protocols at all health facilities.

Human African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)
Human African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)

Author: Christian Burri

Publisher: MDPI

Published: 2020-06-17

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 3039289632

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As it is a goal to eliminate human African trypanosomiasis (HAT; sleeping sickness) as a public health problem by 2020 and interrupt transmission by 2030, this is a good moment to reflect on what we have achieved, what we want to achieve, and what could get in our way. HAT has a reputation for spectacular reappearances, and the latest peak of 40,000 reported and over 300,000 estimated cases only dates back to 1998. Efforts of the WHO and partners as well as the development of simpler and much better-tolerated treatments, improved diagnostics, and vector control tools made it possible to reduce this number by 95%. Case identification and confirmation remain complex and require specific skills, treatment remains error-prone and reports on long-term survivors have emerged, and the relevance of the animal reservoir for T. b. gambiense HAT needs clarification. In addition, to win the “end game” against this massively stigmatized disease, the human factor will play a key role. This Special Issue addresses many of the burning topics about disease elimination in its 12 research and 7 review articles and one case study. The papers critically reflect the approaches used, investigate the mentioned challenges, and propose novel approaches and interventions from various points of view.

Manson's Tropical Infectious Diseases
Manson's Tropical Infectious Diseases

Author: Jeremy Farrar

Publisher: Elsevier Health Sciences

Published: 2023-07-14

Total Pages: 1638

ISBN-13: 0702079618

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For 125 years, physicians have relied on Manson's Tropical Diseases for a comprehensive clinical overview of this complex and fast-changing field. The fully revised 24th Edition, Dr. Jeremy Farrar, along with an internationally recognized editorial team, global contributors, and expert authors, delivers the latest coverage on parasitic and infectious diseases from around the world. From the difficult to diagnose to the difficult to treat, this highly readable, award-winning reference prepares you to effectively handle whatever your patients may have contracted. Covers all of tropical medicine in a comprehensive manner, general medicine in the tropics, and non-clinical issues regarding public health and ethics. Serves as an indispensable resource for physicians who treat patients with tropical diseases and/or will be travelling to the tropics, or who are teaching others in this area. Contains a new section on 21st Century Drivers of Tropical Medicine, with chapters covering Poverty and Inequality, Public Health in Settings of Conflict and Political Instability, Climate Change, and Medical Product Quality and Public Health. Includes all-new chapters on Surgery in the Topics, Yellow Fever, Systemic Mycoses, and COVID-19. Covers key topics such as drug resistance; emerging and reemerging infections such as Zika, Ebola, and Chikungunya; novel diagnostics such as PCR-based methods; point-of care-tests such as ultrasound; public health in settings of conflict and political instability; and much more. Differentiates approaches for resource-rich and resource-poor areas. Includes reader-friendly features such as highlighted key information, convenient boxes and tables, extensive cross-referencing, and clinical management diagrams.

Working to Overcome the Global Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases
Working to Overcome the Global Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases

Author: World Health Organization. Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13: 9241564091

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"Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) blight the lives of a billion people worldwide and threaten the health of millions more. These ancient companions of poverty weaken impoverished populations, frustrate the achievement of health in the Millennium Development Goals and impede global health and economies has convinced governments, donors, the pharmaceutical industry and other agencies, including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), to invest in preventing and controlling this diverse group of diseases. Global efforts to control "hidden" diseases, such as dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease), leprosy, gains including the imminent eradication of dracunculiasis. Since 1989 (when most endemic countries began reporting monthly from each endemic village), the number of new dracunculiasis cases has fallen from 892 055 in 12 endemic countries to 3190 in 4 countries in 2009, a decrease of more than 99%. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends five public-health strategies for the prevention and control of NTDs: preventive chemotherapy; intensified case-management; vector control; the provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene; and veterinary public health (that is, applying veterinary sciences to ensure the health and well-being of humans). Although one approach and delivered locally." - p. vii