The Norovirus, or the stomach bug, has resurged — ravaging communities across the United States. The virus is exceptionally contagious and spreads easily through contaminated food, water, surfaces and person-to-person contact. However, the spread can be prevented by simple handwashing.
Resistant to many types of cleaners, including hand sanitizer, the Norovirus has since managed to infect over 15% of the tested population in the northeastern United States. Due to poor hygiene practices and lack of awareness, Norovirus spreads freely and quickly.
Norovirus serves as a compelling example to highlight the dangers associated with infectious diseases, particularly those with characteristics similar to Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD).
While the virus is not exclusively tropical, like NTDs, it is a highly contagious virus that primarily causes acute gastroenteritis, affecting millions of people globally each year. Moreover, an impact that demonstrates several reasons why NTDs and infectious diseases, in general, can be dangerous. This high transmissibility is a shared characteristic with many NTDs, making them difficult to control, especially in regions with limited resources for healthcare and sanitation.
According to the Word Health Organization (WHO), NTDs are a diverse group of conditions caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins. Additionally, all of which are associated with devastating health, social, and economic consequences.
As a diverse group of communicable diseases that thrive in impoverished and marginalized regions, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and ill-health, they pose a significant global health threat, affecting some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. These diseases, often overshadowed by more high-profile health concerns, can have severe consequences for individuals, communities, and entire nations.
NTDs encompass a wide range of parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections, including but not limited to diseases such as lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis. These diseases disproportionately affect populations in tropical and subtropical regions, where factors like inadequate sanitation, lack of access to clean water, and poor healthcare infrastructure create fertile ground for their transmission. Some of the most prominent NTDs are all very likely to be spread, but most of them can be countered by simple hygienic rituals or prevention.
Some of the most common NTD’s include the following:
Lymphatic Filariasis (LF):
Known as elephantiasis, LF is caused by parasitic worms transmitted through mosquito bites. The infection can lead to swelling of body parts, especially in the legs and genital areas, and can cause long-term disability. The easiest way to counter this disease is by not wandering into LF-infested mosquito areas or by using mosquito spray and wearing long clothing.
Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia):
Caused by parasitic worms called schistosomes that infect freshwater snails, Schistosomiasis is acquired through contact with contaminated water. It can lead to a variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bladder or urinary tract problems. By not swimming in freshwater and only in chlorinated pools, you can also easily cut this one out of your list.
Onchocerciasis (River Blindness):
Caused by a parasitic worm, onchocerciasis is transmitted by black flies. It primarily affects the skin and eyes, leading to severe itching, skin nodules. Moreover, if left untreated, can result in blindness. Use insect repellents liberally to avoid black flies.
Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH):
This group of infections includes diseases caused by parasitic worms such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. STH infections are transmitted through contaminated soil and can lead to nutritional deficiencies, anemia, and impaired growth in children. By washing your hands and minimizing contact with soil, STH is not a threat to worry about.
Though easily countered and controlled, NTDs negatively affect 1.6 billion people on the planet, as reported by the WHO. Recognizing the danger of NTDs necessitates a committed and collaborative response from the international community. By prioritizing research, increasing funding, and implementing comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies, we can break the chains of neglect that shackle millions of individuals to a life of preventable suffering. It is only through collective action and a renewed commitment to global health equity that we can effectively combat the silent threat of NTD.
However, these efforts are useless if we do not adhere to simple sanitation practices.
The recent outbreak of Norovirus in the United States, a spread that could easily be stopped with hand washing, shows the importance of basic sanitary practices. An international effort to support vulnerable communities, along with practices like frequent handwashing, disinfecting, and social distancing, can ultimately, and effectively, reduce the spread of NTDs.
