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Lymphatic Filariasis

Vaccines Over Missiles

July 12, 2010

In a new op-ed published by the Ottawa Citizen today, Sabin President Dr. Peter Hotez urges the world's nuclear weapons states--where high rates of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and roughly one-third of the world's parasitic worm infections occur--to "redirect scientists who work in poor countries to peacetime pursuits."

"Most North Americans and Russians are unaware that, 50 years ago, nations on both sides of the Cold War co-operated on a back channel scientific research and development effort that led to the joint development of the oral polio vaccine. Today that vaccine has become the major instrument for global polio eradication efforts.

The fact that the U.S. and Soviet Union could put aside their ideological differences shortly after the Sputnik launch at the height of the Cold War for purposes of scientific co-operation and vaccine development, suggests that India, Pakistan, and China, not to mention Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, and Syria, could do the same for neglected tropical disease vaccines."

Continue reading "Vaccines over missiles" here.

Neglected Infection Control Is Better Investment than Nuclear Weaponry

April 27, 2010

For a tiny fraction of the cost of maintaining a nuclear arsenal, the 11 nuclear power states (United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, and possibly Syria) could eliminate neglected infections within their borders—which account for up to 50% of the global disease burden—and beyond, says a new editorial published April 27 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

The Global Health Initiative

March 18, 2010

Through his proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget, President Barack Obama has taken a strong and positive stance in support of global efforts to eliminate the tremendous human suffering caused by infectious and neglected tropical diseases.

The FY 2011 budget proposes $155 million to “deliver treatments for seven of the highly prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through targeted mass drug administration and training of community-based and professional health care workers,” while $700 million has been designated for maternal and child health programs which place “prevention and treatment of diarrhea, pneumonia and newborn infections” as priority intervention areas.

The Sabin Vaccine Institute applauds the Obama administration’s commitment to fight and prevent these preventable and treatable diseases and also recognizes the tremendous strides that can be made beyond a reduction in mortality and disease burden rates.