WHO | Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean

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Home Neglected tropical diseases


Tropical diseases and zoonoses

In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, neglected tropical diseases represent a major public health problem. Some diseases, such as leishmaniasis, are endemic in most countries. Other diseases, such as leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis (bilharzia) and soil-transmitted helminthiases, affect only some countries of the Region or are of low prevalence. Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) and human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are only endemic in South Sudan.

 

News

Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) is a neglected tropical disease considered as lethal without treatment. It is found in sub-Saharan countries with a patchy distribution in foci. Many of these...

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On 30 April 2012, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean presented the final draft of the “Regional strategic plan on cutaneous leishmaniasis” and the “Guidelines for the case management...

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In focus

Threat of a new epidemic of sleeping sickness

Interventions for the control of human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, are dwindling. This could lead to a new epidemic. A resurgence is already occurring as evinced by...

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Events

Report on the programme managers' meeting on leprosy elimination Beirut, Lebanon, 15–16 December 2010 [pdf 145kb]  Report on the programme managers' review meeting on cutaneous leishmaniasis control in the Eastern Mediterranean...

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