ND Fighting NTDs 2010-2011: An Overview

What are Neglected Tropical Diseases? You could fill Notre Dame stadium 17,822 times with the people infected with NTDs around the world. 1.4 billion people worldwide are infected with one or more of the 13 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). For every ND undergrad, there are 180,000 people infected with an NTD. NTDs affect more people in the world than AIDS and malaria combined.

What are the diseases called? LYMPHATIC FILIRIASIS ASCARIASIS HOOKWORM TRACHOMA ONOROCHONIASIS (RIVER BLINDNESS) TRICHURIASIS (WHIPWORM) SCHISTOSOMIASIS (SNAIL FEVER)

Video Courtesy GNNTD http://globalnetwork.org/just50centsvideo

Treating NTDs NTDs are controllable and possibly eradicable by safe and effective drugs already in existence, many of which are donated by pharmaceutical companies (Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer). With public-private partnerships like those between government agencies and the drug companies mentioned above, all seven of the most common NTDs can be controlled for approximately 50 cents per person per year.

NTDs in the News Recent development: President Obama included a $155 million allocation for the treatment, control, and eradication of NTDs in the 2011 fiscal year State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. ND Fighting NTDs is planning to work closely with the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (GNNTD), a group which raises the profile of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and builds support for control and elimination activities. The GNNTD connects global players and afflicted communities to increase access to vital medicines that can stop these illnesses and lift the world’s poorest people out of poverty.

Lymphatic Filiariasis (Elephantiasis) 120 million people are infected worldwide An additional 1 billion are at risk for contracting it Caused by parasitic filarial worms that feed off the human through their lymphatic system The worms living within the lymphatic system cause swelling in the limbs and in the genitals making this an extremely painful, disfiguring and debilitating disease Medication to treat symptoms has been donated by GlaskoSmith, a prominent drug company

Ascaraisis Affects nearly 1/8 of the world’s population 807 million people worldwide are infected Kills 60,000 people annually Causes swelling of the abdomen and severe abdominal pain, malnutrition, anemia, and impaired physical growth, particularly in children

Hookworm Nearly one-tenth of the world’s population infected Infects 576 million people worldwide, including 44 million pregnant women Intestinal parasite causes severe weight loss, loss of appetite, and extreme fatigue and weakness In 2001, the World Health Organization adopted a resolution aimed at the deworming of 75 percent of all at-risk school-age children by 2010, the largest public health program ever attempted to date A hookworm vaccine is also in development and is currently in a Phase I clinical trial

Trachoma The world’s leading cause of preventable blindness 41 million people suffer from active trachoma infection An infectious disease of the eye spread easily by contact with an infected person or by flies that have come in contact with the eyes or nose of an infected person Because trachoma is transmitted through close personal contact, it tends to occur in clusters—often infecting entire families and communities and leading dozens blind in a single village

Onorochoniasis (River Blindness) Infects 37 million people living near rivers in sub-Saharan Africa The world’s 4th leading cause of preventable blindness 500,000 of those infected are severely impaired visually while 270,000 are permanently blind from the disease Transmitted through black flies Causes skin rashes, lesions, and blindness

Trichuriasis (Whipworm) 604 million people are infected worldwide Transmitted through accidental ingestion of contaminated soil or unwashed vegetables fertilized with human feces Children are at an especially high risk for whipworm because they often play outside in the dirt or soil Prolonged exposure to whipworm can cause serious health consequences including malnutrition, anemia, swelling of the abdomen and physical growth retardation

Schistosomiasis (Snail Fever) Most deadly of the NTDs: kills 280,000 people each year Second only to malaria as the most common parasitic disease 207 million people are afflicted by this disease Easily transmitted through any contact with infested water Causes swelling of the abdomen, kidney disease, liver disease, and bladder cancer Children under 14 are especially at risk

ND Fighting NTDs Structure: Officers President: Emily Conron Co-Treasurers: Mike McCurrie and Tom Emery Event Planning Chair: Jake Coleman Publicity & Awareness Chair: Eileen Lynch Alumni Outreach Chair: Sean Heiden Webmaster: position available! Club officer elections will be held in February 2011.

ND Fighting NTDs: Committee Descriptions Event Planning Committee: plans and coordinates awareness and fundraising events around campus Publicity & Awareness Committee: coordinates publicity activities, print and digital advertising, and marketing campaigns Alumni Outreach Committee: coordinates alumni activities and maintains the communication channel between alumni and friends of the university and the NTD group

Goals for the Year Raise the Notre Dame community’s awareness of the NTD crisis and the availability of drugs to combat it Encourage students to get involved in spreading awareness by contacting their legislators, community leaders, business executives, and the general public Plan events on campus to raise awareness and educate students about NTDs Dorm movie showings Lecture series with guest speakers Producing promotional materials (t-shirts, posters, table tents for dining halls, brochures, etc.)

Even MORE Goals for the Year! Fundraisers A benefit concert T-shirt sales Sponsorships by local businesses Dinners at local restaurants Coordinating with other on-campus clubs and the CSC Getting bigger – tell your friends!

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Thanks so much for your interest!  Check out these sites for more info on NTDs: http://www.globalnetwork.org http://www.neglectedtropicaldiseases.org/ http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/en/ Join our Facebook group: “ND Fighting NTDs” Meetings will be held every other Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. in Geddes Hall basement, classroom B036 (usually last 30-40 minutes or less) Please give us your email if you are not on our listserv already.