The current re-emergence of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) amid the global COVID-19 pandemic requires increased attention. These include communicable and vector-borne diseases caused by various fungi, bacteria (e.g. tuberculosis), viruses (e.g. dengue, Chikungunya fever, monkeypox, Marburg and Ebola virus disease, poliomyelitis, rabies), and parasites (e.g. filariasis, malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis).
Whilst the vast majority of such diseases remain endemic to specific regions of the world (e.g. tropical Africa), some - like those caused by the Ebola virus, the Marburg virus, and more recently the Monkeypox virus - have been reported elsewhere (e.g. Europe and America), forcing public health boards in various countries to take all necessary precautions to control such a spread.
The Department for Control of Neglected Tropical Disease was created in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to tackle NTD. In 2021, the 74th World Health Assembly proposed a 9-year plan (2021-2030) intended to eradicate neglected diseases.
Over the past three years, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on socio-economic activities and healthcare systems worldwide. With the WHO recently declaring the global monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, a coordinated effort among high-income and low/middle-income countries is now more than ever recommended to address the threat posed by the worldwide re-emergence of some NTD.
There is currently a lack of knowledge on understanding how such diseases are transmitted and what mitigation strategies should be put in place to control their spread. Better availability of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and drugs in affected countries is also required.
In this Research Topic, we wish to address how to best tackle the re-emergence of NTD in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This collection welcomes a range of articles including opinion, commentary, systematic reviews, and original research articles on epidemiology, transmission, mitigation strategies, and recent advances in chemotherapy and vaccines for these NTD. Themes include, but are not limited to, studies on:
• How human transmission occurs (including studies on intermediate hosts)
• Rapid diagnostic testing modalities, screening and surveillance
• Universal health strategies (including studies on drinking water safety, sanitation and hygiene improvements)
• Identification of reservoirs and control of vectors
• Recent advances in drug discovery and development (including preventive therapy)
• Recent advances in vaccine discovery and delivery
• Implementation of mass drug administration
• Individual case management
• Veterinary public health
• Community involvement in the eradication of NTD
Note to Authors: Please note that articles submitted via Frontiers in Tropical Diseases will only be considered if they adhere to the WHO Neglected Tropical Diseases. Any Neglected Tropical Diseases listed in the collection above will be considered for review with Frontiers in Pharmacology.
The current re-emergence of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) amid the global COVID-19 pandemic requires increased attention. These include communicable and vector-borne diseases caused by various fungi, bacteria (e.g. tuberculosis), viruses (e.g. dengue, Chikungunya fever, monkeypox, Marburg and Ebola virus disease, poliomyelitis, rabies), and parasites (e.g. filariasis, malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis).
Whilst the vast majority of such diseases remain endemic to specific regions of the world (e.g. tropical Africa), some - like those caused by the Ebola virus, the Marburg virus, and more recently the Monkeypox virus - have been reported elsewhere (e.g. Europe and America), forcing public health boards in various countries to take all necessary precautions to control such a spread.
The Department for Control of Neglected Tropical Disease was created in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to tackle NTD. In 2021, the 74th World Health Assembly proposed a 9-year plan (2021-2030) intended to eradicate neglected diseases.
Over the past three years, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on socio-economic activities and healthcare systems worldwide. With the WHO recently declaring the global monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, a coordinated effort among high-income and low/middle-income countries is now more than ever recommended to address the threat posed by the worldwide re-emergence of some NTD.
There is currently a lack of knowledge on understanding how such diseases are transmitted and what mitigation strategies should be put in place to control their spread. Better availability of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and drugs in affected countries is also required.
In this Research Topic, we wish to address how to best tackle the re-emergence of NTD in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This collection welcomes a range of articles including opinion, commentary, systematic reviews, and original research articles on epidemiology, transmission, mitigation strategies, and recent advances in chemotherapy and vaccines for these NTD. Themes include, but are not limited to, studies on:
• How human transmission occurs (including studies on intermediate hosts)
• Rapid diagnostic testing modalities, screening and surveillance
• Universal health strategies (including studies on drinking water safety, sanitation and hygiene improvements)
• Identification of reservoirs and control of vectors
• Recent advances in drug discovery and development (including preventive therapy)
• Recent advances in vaccine discovery and delivery
• Implementation of mass drug administration
• Individual case management
• Veterinary public health
• Community involvement in the eradication of NTD
Note to Authors: Please note that articles submitted via Frontiers in Tropical Diseases will only be considered if they adhere to the WHO Neglected Tropical Diseases. Any Neglected Tropical Diseases listed in the collection above will be considered for review with Frontiers in Pharmacology.
