Archive for category: Disease

Information and news about disease category

, ,

Diseases Impacting Chile

Diseases Impacting ChileKnown for its long coastline and diverse landscapes, Chile has made significant strides in public health, with an average life expectancy of 81 and continued progress in reducing infant mortality. However, the nation continues to face public health challenges. These include a difficult COVID-19 response, high numbers of cancer deaths and ongoing problems with cardiovascular disease. Here is more information about the diseases impacting Chile and efforts to address them.

Cancer Progress

In recent years, cancer has rivaled cardiovascular disease for the title of leading cause of death in Chile, with 31,440 reported cancer-related deaths in 2022. In response to cancer being one of the most persistent diseases impacting Chile, the government has implemented multiple policies to fight the disease. The government passed laws to lower tobacco use, increase the number of HPV vaccines and facilitate more cancer research and clinical trials within the country.

In 2018, Chile implemented a national cancer plan. The plan focuses on shortcomings in prevention, diagnosis and treatment for patients across the country. Officials saw success with the formation of a national cancer registry and the existing tumor banks, with one example being roughly 700,000 cholecystectomies being performed since the start of the plan.

Cardiovascular Disease Concerns

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Chile, at around 25% of all deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this number was 33,504 in 2023 – an increase in deaths from 2019. Significant risk factors like hypertension, which affects nearly one in four adults in the country, are often unknown to patients and lead to an increased risk for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). 

The Chilean government has embarked on a mission to increase awareness of hypertension and CVD as a whole. In 2013, the country partnered with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Across the greater South American region, over three million people have received treatment for hypertension as a result of these partnerships. Concrete successes include the creation of public hypertension clinics, expansion of health coverage in the country and increased data collection to ensure patients are identified before cardiovascular disease can develop.

COVID-19 Difficulties

Chile never established a national lockdown, leading quarantine guidelines to be inconsistent in different localities. With more than 5 million total cases and more than 64,000 deaths, Chile was one of the most affected nations in South America. As recently as 2022, the country saw 13,433 COVID-19 deaths, despite having a vaccination rate of 94.62%. 

Although COVID still poses a risk, Chile has demonstrated its ability to mobilize quickly when it comes to vaccinations. The success of vaccine distribution, combined with low vaccine skepticism in the country, means that Chile is equipped to respond more effectively to the next potential pandemic.

Looking Ahead

Chile’s proactive public health policies and investment in health care infrastructure offer a model for other developing nations. The few diseases impacting Chile still have a grip on the population, with preventable deaths in cancer and cardiovascular disease making up more than 50% of deaths in the country. However, Chile has reasons to be optimistic, with progress being made each year when it comes to infrastructure and research in combating these issues. 

– Benjamin Pugh 

Benjamin is based in Kansas City, MO, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

COPD Underdiagnosis in Latin America: Challenges and Solutions

COPD Underdiagnosis in Latin AmericaThe PLATINO and PUMA studies from 2002 and 2016 outlined the rate of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) underdiagnosis in Latin America. The data highlighted the importance of early intervention in minimizing the economic and social fallout associated with this respiratory illness.

COPD is caused by damage to the lungs. It can be a consequence of smoking or exposure to air pollutants from biomass fuels. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the overwhelming majority of deaths of people aged 70 and younger from COPD take place in low- and middle-income nations.

Who Is at Risk?

In Puno, Peru, on the shore of Lake Titicaca, women’s risk of developing respiratory issues due to daily use of biomass fuels is 55%. In Colombia, older men who smoked or were exposed to wood smoke for more than 10 years were more likely to develop COPD. The findings of the 2016 PUMA study, which focused on primary care in Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Paraguay, revealed underdiagnosis of COPD in more than 70% of cases. The most affected group included younger men with low educational levels and no prior testing.

Consequences of COPD Underdiagnosis in Latin America

The burden created by the underdiagnosis of COPD in Latin American countries can turn into an even heavier burden that those already struggling with poverty cannot afford:

  • Productivity and work gaps decrease the earning power of people affected and their employers, placing most of the economic burden on the families of the sick.
  • A person whose COPD is more severe due to a lack of early treatment can expect higher health expenses due to the need for hospitalization. In Brazil, the cost of treatment rose from $5,891 in 2010 to $13,181 in 2015.
  • The rate of in-hospital mortality due to COPD in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina continued to rise significantly through the ’80s and ’90s. However, in Brazil, the mortality rate decreased by more than 25% from 2000 to 2019 thanks to local efforts.

The Challenges

In a survey by Vital Strategies and Umane, up to 62.3% of Brazilians did not seek medical attention due to several reasons. The surveyees stated long wait times, difficulties accessing specialists or underestimating the health issue. Up to 40.5% of those who did attempt to visit a doctor could not, due to extensive waiting times, lack of available doctors or proper equipment.

However, starting in 2024, the Breathe Well South America program has a plan to investigate access to primary care for people with COPD. It is being funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It’s driven by the work of the Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS) in Argentina and several international universities.

Diagnostic Tools

Spirometers are a vital tool for the diagnosis of COPD. The test measures airflow and volume. In Latin America, it is often underused by primary care providers because of limited access to spirometers, short appointment windows and insufficient training to perform and interpret tests.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, the Brazilian Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, began putting into place the Telespirometry System Brazil (TS-BR). The initiative aims to provide training and spirometers to specialists. As of 2024, 147 municipalities had participated in the program.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca launched Smart Spiros in Panama to improve the rate of diagnosis of COPD. Around 7,500 tests are expected to be performed by the end of 2025, which could help diagnose nearly 50% of COPD cases.

Increasing Awareness

The survey by Vital Strategies discovered that 34.6% of Brazilians questioned avoided seeking care because they assumed their health issue wasn’t serious enough to merit a visit. To combat this, World COPD Day takes place worldwide on the third Wednesday in November. It encourages health organizations to educate people about symptoms and possible treatments regularly.

In 2017, Paraguay’s Health Ministry dedicated an entire week to training, education and testing patients. This work is important because early diagnosis is crucial to preventing exacerbations that can result in costly, lengthy hospital stays.

From Underdiagnosis to Action

As of 2024, COPD was the fourth-leading cause of death globally. COPD underdiagnosis in Latin America has been a major issue that national and international organizations are working to quantify and resolve. For people living in poverty, illness and loss of income can become a crippling situation that further diminishes their earning capacity or entirely prevents them from earning a livelihood.

Despite challenges, such as a lack of education, spirometers and trained professionals, universities, international organizations and governments have come together to put into motion programs that bring much-needed solutions to the public.

– Johanna Lorena Arredondo Gonzalez

Johanna is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

, ,

Fighting the Silent Killer: Hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa

Hypertension in Sub-Saharan AfricaHypertension, often called the silent killer, is surging across sub-Saharan Africa as cities expand and diets change. The World Health Organization (WHO) says more than one-third of adults in the region live with high blood pressure. Yet, many do not know they have it until they suffer a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure.

Unlike infectious diseases with obvious symptoms, hypertension can go undetected for years. Rural clinics may be miles away and often lack reliable blood pressure cuffs. Even in cities, routine screenings are rare outside hospitals. Poverty deepens the problem.

Many patients skip checkups because of travel costs or lost wages and medication can be hard to find or too expensive.

Community Health Workers Take the Lead

Governments and aid groups are training community health workers to screen residents where they live. In Kenya and Ghana, mobile teams set up at markets and churches to check blood pressure for free. When they discover hypertension in an individual, health workers give lifestyle advice and connect patients to inexpensive generic drugs.

These programs are low-cost and easy to expand, often costing only a few dollars per patient each year.

Medicine matters, but prevention depends on wider change. Public campaigns urge people to cut salt, eat more fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly. In Tanzania, radio programs and text-message reminders promote healthier cooking and daily walks. Urban planners in Nigeria and South Africa are adding walking paths and parks to make physical activity safer and easier.

Partnerships and Policy Momentum

The WHO’s HEARTS Initiative has been deployed in several low- and middle-income countries to standardize hypertension care protocols and strengthen primary care delivery systems. Similarly, regional bodies such as the Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) have collaborated with the WHO to produce the “Roadmap to Achieve 25% Hypertension Control in Africa by 2025,” guiding national hypertension policies.

National governments have adopted task-sharing and guideline frameworks under pressure from global advocacy groups. In Africa, the Innovative Epidemiology and a Vibrant Ecosystem (ACHIEVE) strategy outlines 10 strategic actions for integrating hypertension control into health systems policy. Furthermore, donor agencies and international NGOs, including Resolve to Save Lives, support the procurement of affordable medications, provide training and provide technical assistance to governments launching hypertension control programs.

Within Africa, the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) strategic plans emphasize strengthening partnerships, workforce development and institutional coordination across member states. These efforts aim to embed noncommunicable disease (NCD) control—including hypertension—into broader health systems.

A Vital Step Toward Stronger Health Systems

Controlling hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa strengthens health services overall. Routine blood pressure checks create chances to spot diabetes and other chronic diseases. Reliable supply chains for hypertension drugs improve access to other essential medicines. By fighting a silent but deadly disease, sub-Saharan Africa can prevent countless premature deaths and build a healthier, more productive population. This shows that tackling chronic illness is as important to development as battling infectious disease.

– Katie Williams

Katie is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

,

Dr. Fairlie and the Breakthrough in the Fight Against TB

Dr. FairlieTuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease that generally affects the lungs, but also affects other parts of the body. Prevention of TB involves screening those at high risk, treatment of cases and early detection. TB is the leading cause of death worldwide despite the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. However, people who are already exposed to the disease are required to go through multiple antibiotic treatments over a long period of time.

More than Just Numbers

In 2023, 1.3 million people died from TB. In 2022, 10.6 million people fell ill with TB. This is a disease that has claimed countless lives and will not stop unless someone discovers a proper vaccine, and soon. As more time passes, TB becomes more resistant to the vaccines that doctors already use.

This large death toll from TB is not only due to infection, it is also due in part to the large population living with HIV as well. Of those 1.3 million who died of TB, 167,000 of those people were diagnosed with HIV. TB is also the leading cause of death among people with HIV and a major cause of antimicrobial resistance-related deaths.

Progress

Preventing the TB disease, rather than the infection, has been the main target for vaccine development. Development of an effective TB vaccine is a top global priority that many scientists have been working on for decades.

It is because of this that the paediatrician and researcher in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr Lee Fairlie, has made it her mission to help the people in need. She has seen more than her fair share of TB-related deaths over the course of her career, mostly because of the large population of those with HIV that live in South Africa.

Though the search for a TB vaccine has been slow, researchers are making progress nonetheless. Dr. Fairlie has made it her mission not to give up, and now, she and her colleagues may be on the verge of a breakthrough.

A New Vaccine and Hope for the Future

Her team is one of the sites conducting a landmark M72/AS01E TB vaccine trial, with the help of Gates Medical Research Institute and funded by the Gates Foundation and Wellcome, which includes sites across four African countries (including South Africa) and Indonesia. At first, GSK developed it in collaboration from Aeras and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. M72 could possibly be the first new TB vaccine in more than a century and the first-ever to help protect adults and adolescents from the disease.

While the clinical trial is still in its early stages, M72’s initial reports have filled the team with hope. M72 reportedly had a near 50% efficacy after three years in preventing TB-infected adults from developing active disease, which would make them both sick and contagious to others.

While the results are years away, Dr. Fairlie is hopeful for the future, as this could be a step further towards a world without TB.

– Avery Carl

Avery is based in Scottsbluff, NE, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Fighting Hunger and Cholera in Sudan

Cholera in SudanSudan is caught in the middle of a dual emergency. A devastating cholera epidemic and widespread famine have left millions of people facing preventable illness and hunger. Ongoing conflict has only deepened the crisis, destroying infrastructure, displacing families and cutting off humanitarian access. Yet even in this bleak picture, targeted global efforts are showing that solutions exist; if they can be scaled and sustained.

The Scale of the Crisis

Since 2024, Sudan has endured one of its worst cholera epidemics in decades, with hundreds of thousands of suspected cases reported and thousands of deaths. At the same time, more than 25 million people are now acutely food insecure, with famine conditions confirmed in parts of Darfur.  The war between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces has turned health into a casualty, destroying water systems and hospitals and blocking supply lines. Without outside help, this fight against cholera and hunger could possibly wipe out half of Sudan’s population.

Emergency Responses on the Ground

Despite these barriers, humanitarian organizations are working on the frontlines to contain the damage. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are leading cholera vaccination campaigns, distributing rapid diagnostic kits and deploying mobile health clinics into hard-to-reach areas. These global efforts are critical not only for treating current outbreaks but also for limiting future spread and helping rebuild Sudan.

Meanwhile, the World Food Program (WFP) has stepped in to confront hunger and malnutrition. WFP is providing food aid, therapeutic feeding for children, and cash assistance where local markets still function, ensuring that the most vulnerable can survive through the worst of the shortages. Local NGOs add another layer of support, such as SUDO, repairing broken water points and working with communities to restore sanitation systems.

Building Long-Term Resilience

Sudan’s health system should be able to withstand future shocks. That means training local health workers, strengthening laboratory capacity and investing in disease surveillance to enable early detection of outbreaks like cholera. International strategies like the WHO’s ‘Global Cholera Roadmap 2030’ provide a framework for reducing cholera deaths by 90% worldwide. Applying this roadmap in Sudan, through water and sanitation upgrades, vaccination drives and better outbreak detection, could turn the tide not just in this crisis, but for decades to come and help Sudan fully rebuild itself.

The Role of Funding and Coordination

The financial dimension is also critical. The WFP warns that humanitarian operations in Sudan remain severely underfunded, with hundreds of millions of dollars still needed this year. Donor countries and development banks will need to align funding with coordinated strategies, ensuring resources go where they are most necessary. These small global efforts could lead to a big step to help Sudan rebuild itself by fighting cholera and hunger!

A Path Forward

Sudan’s crisis is far from over, but the path forward is clearer than it may appear. By protecting humanitarian access, expanding vaccination & food aid and investing in long-term health resilience, global actors can help Sudan move from mere survival toward recovery. The country’s people have endured staggering loss; what they need now is a consistent international partnership that delivers not just aid, but the tools to rebuild their health and dignity.

– Nilay Ersoy

Nilay is based in Cambridge, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Taking Action Against Yellow Fever in Colombia

Yellow Fever in ColumbiaAfter the mysterious deaths of three monkeys of different species in Putumayo, Colombia, health teams quickly determined the cause. They identified that the deaths were not random or coincidental, but the beginning of what could have been a yellow fever outbreak in Colombia. It is a highly contagious virus mainly transmitted by mosquito bites.

However, it can be prevented by vaccines, which are relatively affordable and easily accessible. Nonetheless, depending on the region, it can be harder to access or afford. In 2025, five countries reported an increasing presence of yellow fever. In Colombia (as of June 28, 2025), there have been 114 confirmed human yellow fever cases, 49 confirmed deaths and case fatality rate of 43%.

The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) offered training to health teams through the PROTECT initiative in Colombia. It educated health workers on taking preventative measures quickly and efficiently against outbreaks of viral diseases such as yellow fever.

Education From Health Professionals

Following the deaths of the monkeys, several immediate preventative measures were taken. These included vaccinating environmental workers, conducting entomological studies and analyzing the affected area. Due to the training offered by PAHO, health teams were taught how to take samples from wildlife safely and the importance of integrated surveillance.

Integrated surveillance showed health workers the importance of monitoring primates and mosquitoes in the area and shared many tools to take preventative action and control outbreaks. Due to strong surveillance of the area, Colombian professionals were able to identify the presence of yellow fever in Putumayo, Colombia and control further spread of the virus.

Maintaining high vaccination levels and continued wildlife surveillance will help catch future outbreaks before they become too severe. Colombia has issued regulations and laws to help contain the spread of yellow fever and increase preparedness for future situations where swift action is needed.

PAHO has urged countries to “maintain active surveillance, vaccinate at-risk populations and ensure rapid responses to early warning signs — such as unexplained monkey deaths.” This is extremely important because our health depends on the health of our environment and the wildlife inside it. Monkeys are extremely similar to humans, so we won’t be far behind if they are affected.

The Future of PAHO’s Health Initiative

PAHO has made guidance documents publicly available on the regional level, which include instructions on safe sample collection, guidelines for managing control endeavors and maps of high-risk areas. It continues to conduct in-person training on surveillance and entomology of yellow fever for vulnerable countries.

Colombia has also issued circulars that establish transitional measures for yellow fever vaccinations. The criteria of these letters extend from ages 9 months to 59 years of age. The public health risk of yellow fever is extremely high.

However, with these measures implemented by PAHO/WHO, such as increasing vaccination levels, people have been successfully learning to save lives and contain outbreaks of yellow fever in Colombia.

– Bowie Aldrich

Bowie is based in North Syracuse, NY, USA and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

, ,

All About Tungiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa: What, Where and How

All About Tungiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa: What, Where and How Tungiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD), meaning it does not receive adequate attention.  It is most prevalent among those living in poverty in the Caribbean, South America and the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Despite this fact, Tungiasis continues to go unaddressed in global public health agendas. Tungiasis does not get much coverage in academic circles, by community health care practitioners, public health experts, decision makers, funding organizations and pharmaceutical companies. No country, particularly in the sub-Saharan region, knows its disease burden regarding Tungiasis, which is a challenge in addressing the problem.

The What

Tungiasis is a skin disease caused by female sand fleas (Tunga penetrans), commonly called jiggers. It is a zoonosis, meaning it can be transmitted between humans and animals, particularly domestic animals such as dogs, cats and pigs. The disease occurs when the female flea burrows into the skin. The most affected areas of the human body are the feet, but the elbows, hands, knees, genitals, buttocks and periungal areas (fingers or toes) are also sites of infection.

At the acute stage, victims suffer from severe pain, itching, sleep problems, inflammation, swelling, deep fissures, ulcers and abscess development due to bacterial superinfection.  Those who suffer chronically experience protracted pain, deformity, damage to the feet, disability and eventually long-term cognitive impairment. In addition to the physical manifestations of the disease, those with Tungiasis also endure social stigma and isolation.

Tungiasis Prevalence: The Where

The prevalence of Tungiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa varies by location.  The disease primarily affects children and elderly people in every country within the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.  The prevalent rates of infection in each country are as follows: 

  • Ethiopia: 46.5%
  • Cameroon: 44.9%
  • Tanzania: 42.0%
  • Kenya: 37.2%
  • Nigeria: 28.1%
  • Rwanda: 22.7%
  • Uganda: 20.1% 

These rates are averages, but some areas within these countries show higher prevalence. For example, northeastern Uganda recorded a prevalence rate of 62.8%.

Ongoing Efforts: The How

Risk factors for contracting Tungiasis include poverty, poor hygiene, lack of sealed flooring, mud/earthen housing, rearing of domestic animals, and walking barefoot. Home remedies attempted include manual extractions with non-sterile sharp instruments, which cause inflammation, significant pain, bleeding, open wounds and a high risk of bacterial and viral infections. Other methods include the use of motor oil, tobacco, naphthalene, kerosene and hydrogen peroxide. None of these methods is effective, and all are dangerous.

The most recommended treatment for Tungiasis is the use of low-viscosity Dimeticone. It is the most effective and works in mild and severe cases. Another effective treatment is the combination of coconut and neem oil. However, it is not as effective as Dimeticone and requires more application to the affected area.

Innovations for Tropical Disease Elimination (IFOTRODE), a humanitarian organization based in Uganda, carried out a two-year study in the country’s northeast. The study included quarterly detection and treatment efforts. People and animals received treatment with Dimeticone oil, and the team also organized community health promotions through local dialogues. During the study, health workers diagnosed and treated 12,540 cases. As a result, the prevalence of tungiasis in the area dropped from 62.8% to 5.7%. It appears researchers have discovered the formula required to reduce and even possibly eradicate Tungiasis.

Looking Ahead

The success of community-based efforts in Uganda shows that the right tools and attention can dramatically reduce tungiasis. Expanding access to effective treatments like dimeticone, investing in public health education, and strengthening global awareness will help eliminate the disease. With continued innovation and support, communities can achieve the goal of ending the suffering caused by tungiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa.

– Danielle Milano

Danielle is based in Pineville, LA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Innovative Ways CEPI is Fighting Lassa Fever

CEPILassa Fever is spread primarily through rodents, specifically Mastomys rats. The viral illness affects up to half a million people a year, with thousands of deaths reported each year. Despite its destructive impact on West Africa, there is still no licensed vaccine. To fight this, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is driving forward an ambitious strategy that combines science, partnerships and capacity building. CEPI is fighting Lassa Fever, offering a blueprint for how the world can prepare for other epidemic threats.

Accelerating Clinical Trials in West Africa

A key step toward eliminating Lassa Fever lies within vaccine development and CEPI is helping to fast-track clinical trials directly in the communities that have been most affected. In 2022, CEPI supported Phase 1 trials in Liberia, marking the first test of an experimental Lassa vaccine in West Africa. This has now been followed up with Phase 2 studies across Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia, which have enrolled more than 600 participants as of 2024.

The Lassa Fever Vaccine Efficacy and Prevention for West Africa (LEAP4WA) consortium, funded by both CEPI and the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnerships (EDCTP), is now preparing for a phase 2b efficacy trial in Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. CEPI’s April 2025 LEAP4WA newsletter confirms that this trial, evaluating the ‘rVSVΔG-LASV-GPC’ vaccine candidate, will begin in 2026 with extensive preparations already underway.

Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, stressed the urgency of the development of a vaccine: “Lassa Fever has been neglected far too long; through supporting trials in endemic regions, we can help those in need.” This focus on West African communities reflects one of the most important ways CEPI is fighting Lassa Fever, ensuring that science serves the people who need it most.

Understanding the Disease Through Epidemiology

Developing a vaccine is only half the challenge; understanding the virus itself is equally vital. That is why CEPI has created its ENABLE program, the largest study of its kind for Lassa Fever, which has enrolled up to 23,000 participants across Benin, Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. This ground-breaking study aims to map transmissions, symptoms and risk factors. These findings are vital for guiding future vaccination campaigns.

To ensure global data consistency, CEPI’s Enabling Science initiative, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has developed international standards and assays for Lassa Fever. This ensures laboratories worldwide can reliably evaluate vaccines and diagnostics.

Gabrielle Breugelmans, CEPI’s Director of Epidemiology, stated, “ENABLE 1.5, running in Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, is giving a clearer picture. Its findings will guide vaccine trial locations and help identify priority groups for vaccination.” Supporting this, CEPI’s Centralized Laboratory Network (CLN) has become the world’s largest vaccine testing network, processing more than 120,000 samples and aiding more than 60 developers. In 2025, it expanded with new members, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has strengthened Africa’s outbreak readiness. 

In accordance with this, CEPI’s Biospecimen Sourcing Initiative aims to reduce the time needed to collect survivor samples from months to weeks, accelerating the diagnostic process and vaccine development. Together, these innovations demonstrate the way CEPI is fighting Lassa Fever, linking local epidemiology and global lab capacity.

Strengthening Regional Partnerships and Governance

Scientific progress alone cannot subdue Lassa Fever. Strong governance and collaboration are essential to ensure vaccines are delivered fairly and effectively. CEPI has worked with the West African Health Organization (WAHO) to launch the Lassa Fever coalition. This collaboration brings together ministries of health, NGOs and civil society organizations to coordinate strategies across borders.

Oyeronke Oyebanji, the head of CEPI’s Lassa Engagement, proclaimed, “The coalition reflects growing solidarity across West Africa, strengthening health security for Lassa and other epidemic threats.” 

In parallel, CEPI supports the RegECs Project, which has harmonized regulatory and ethical approval processes across West Africa through collaboration with the African Regulatory Forum (AVAREF). This innovation has reduced delays in starting trials whilst upholding the international safety standards. Such cross-border cooperation is yet another example of how the CEPI is fighting Lassa Fever, ensuring that progress doesn’t stop at the laboratory but extends into policy and practice.

Building Clinical Trial Infrastructure

One of CEPI’s most forward-thinking strategies is investment in local infrastructure. Through the Research Preparedness Program West Africa (RPPWA), CEPI is helping establish new laboratories, train researchers and prepare trial sites capable of hosting large-scale studies. These investments are designed to outlast any single project. By strengthening scientific capacity across the region, CEPI is building resilience that will help West African countries respond not only to Lassa fever but also to future outbreaks such as Ebola or unknown diseases like “Disease X.” This commitment to sustainability is another practical way CEPI is fighting Lassa fever, leaving behind a legacy of stronger, self-reliant health systems.

A Blueprint for Future Epidemics

CEPI’s fight against Lassa fever illustrates how epidemic preparedness must go beyond developing a vaccine. Indeed, it requires embedding research with affected communities, building networks of trust and investing in long-term infrastructure. Its work shows that when science, governance and regional leadership align, neglected diseases can be confronted head-on.

Through accelerated clinical trials, pioneering epidemiological studies, regional governance initiatives and infrastructure development, CEPI is reshaping how the world approaches epidemic threats. These strategies are among the most impactful ways CEPI is fighting Lassa fever while also providing a model for addressing other emerging infectious diseases. In a region where outbreaks have too often devastated communities, CEPI’s approach offers hope not just of a vaccine but of a safer, more resilient future.

– Charlie Wood

Charlie is based in Liversedge, West Yorkshire and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

, ,

5 Diseases Impacting Saudi Arabia

Diseases Impacting Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia’s government has spent much of the last decade trying to promote the nation as a cultural and economic superpower. It has achieved this through massive investment in the tourism sector and by hosting various high-profile sporting events. The Saudi government clearly also prioritizes the population’s health with the latest available figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggesting that 12.8% of Saudi Arabia’s public expenditure is dedicated to public health projects. This is significantly higher than both the global average of 10.8% and the average of 8.3% that Saudi Arabia’s eastern Mediterranean neighbors spend. Despite this, some communicable diseases continue to pose a significant risk to public welfare. Here is information about the diseases impacting Saudi Arabia and the efforts to address them.

 1. Dengue Fever

Dengue fever, which the mosquito-borne Orthoflavivirus causes, can cause high fever, muscle pain and large rashes. Rising average temperatures across the Mediterranean have allowed mosquitoes to spread north from East Africa to the Middle East. This has increased Saudi Arabia’s mosquito population and has contributed to a rise in infection rates since the 1990s. These rates spike each year during the holy month of Ramadan, where this year, more than 122 million worshippers visited the city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia.

Large gatherings of people from outside the country, who have had no previous exposure to the virus and have therefore built no immunity, can allow it to spread rapidly if they do not take the necessary precautions, such as wearing insect-proof clothing and sleeping under mosquito nets.

The Saudi health ministry has invested heavily in raising awareness of behaviors that prevent the spread of mosquitoes among locals. This helped reduce the number of annual reported infections from 4,266 in 2018 to 1,888 the following year.

2. MERS-CoV

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is one of the most recently identified diseases impacting Saudi Arabia. In early 2025, the Saudi health ministry confirmed nine cases, including two deaths.

MERS-CoV produces flu-like symptoms and infects patients through their respiratory system. Experts believe it has passed to Saudi Arabia’s rural population through contact with dromedary camels, which people widely use for transportation across the country’s deserts.

 3. Meningitis

The Saudi health ministry identified 11 cases of meningitis in March 2025, with the WHO identifying a further 17 in April. In response to this, the Saudi health ministry now requires anyone entering the country to receive a quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine at least 10 days prior to their arrival. At the time, estimates indicated that only 54% of international visitors to Saudi Arabia met the vaccination requirements.

The Saudi health ministry highlighted the importance of vaccination to citizens in its public health campaigns. This complements a post-exposure chemoprophylaxis scheme, in which close contacts of patients receive antimicrobial prophylaxis in order to prevent further transmission.

The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has classified meningococcal meningitis as one of the diseases impacting Saudi Arabia, which poses the greatest risk to British tourists visiting the country. The UKHSA’s current guidance urges tourists travelling to Saudi Arabia to ensure they receiv meningitis vaccinations before they travel.

 4. Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most widely researched diseases impacting Saudi Arabia. Since 2021, Saudi Arabia’s National Tuberculosis Programme has focused on training hospital staff to prevent TB being transmitted between patients, and investing in specialist TB hospitals.

These efforts to curb the spread of the disease have reduced the infection rate from 23 infections per 100,000 people in 2000, to 8.4 infections per 100,000 people in 2023. This meets the targets set out in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on health and well-being.

Despite this success, TB remains more prevalent in Saudi Arabia than in the neighboring United Arab Emirates, and in much of Europe, including the U.K. 

5. Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through contact with animals such as sheep, goats and camels, and through drinking their unpasteurized milk. Many epidemiologists believe it to be the most widespread zoonotic infection in the world.

Infection rates have dropped in Saudi Arabia over the last 30 years, partially due to urbanization reducing the number of people working in agriculture. Despite this, the disease remains endemic in rural communities.

Antibiotics such as Doxycycline can treat brucellosis, with ongoing humanitarian efforts focusing on supplying these medicines to remote areas.

Future Steps

Internal and external efforts to raise public awareness of vital health practices and improve the supply of treatments to rural communities are combating diseases impacting Saudi Arabia. Recent outbreaks, however, prove that substantial government funding of the health ministry and international co-operation remain crucial to further reducing the threat that communicable diseases pose across the country.

– Billy Stack

Billy is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

, ,

New 6-In-1 Vaccine in Mauritania Can Save Millions of Lives

6-In-1 Vaccine in mauritaniaEach year, nearly four million children aged below 5 die due to infectious diseases. Many of these diseases, such as measles, whooping cough and tetanus, have been largely eliminated in developed countries. However, a lack of vaccination in underdeveloped nations has had serious repercussions for residents who can’t access the medicine.

Difficulties in transporting the vaccine while keeping it at the proper temperature (called the “cold chain” process) and finding enough workers trained to administer it are only a few of the problems that these countries face. The sheer amount of immunizations that children must receive (as many as 30 by the age of 18) only compounds the problem. This puts strain on families to devote time and money to getting vaccinated.

However, scientists have a solution: a 6-in-1 vaccine that costs less and requires less medical assistance, thus eliminating barriers that previously prevented poor countries, like Mauritania from vaccinating. Mauritania and Senegal are the first two developing countries to adopt the 6-in-1 vaccine. Their adoption indicates a promising outlook for disease prevention in poverty-stricken nations.

About the Hexavalent Vaccine

The 6-in-1 (“hexavalent”) vaccine consists of a single shot that contains protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and polio. Before it was first used in the mid-2010s, the World Health Organization (WHO) utilized a similar pentavalent vaccine containing all the same immunizations except for polio, which had to be administered through a separate shot.

The pentavalent vaccine was highly successful, protecting approximately 80 million children annually during its 20-plus-year stint. However, the new hexavalent vaccine may have even greater potential. This is due to its ability to reduce inefficiencies caused by multiple shots and reduce overall storage and shipping costs.

Financial Crisis in Mauritania

Mauritania and its neighbor, Senegal, were the first low-income countries to implement the hexavalent vaccine in July 2025. Both countries experience significant poverty rates. However, Mauritania faces an especially pressing problem: to produce enough crops to feed its population of 5.2 million when less than 0.5% of its land is suitable for farming.

Despite being one of the least densely populated countries in the world, Mauritania faces an alarming hunger crisis compounded by recent flooding and an influx of refugees. In fact, inflation and decreased agricultural productivity are expected to bring an additional 200,000 people into poverty by 2027. As of 2022, food insecurity rates have reached 20%, up 9% from the previous year. An influx of refugees from neighboring countries also burdens Mauritania.

These factors cast a grim shadow over the future of Mauritania. Only 55% of children attend school due to the nation’s severely underfunded education sector. The health care industry is similarly lacking; a recent diphtheria outbreak in a refugee camp underscores the need for disease prevention in Mauritania.

Given its precarious economic and social situation, Mauritania may seem like a losing battle; however, introducing the hexavalent vaccine marks a new chapter in comprehensive aid for struggling countries.

A Helping Hand

Mauritania needs all the help it can get and Gavi is determined to provide it. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a Switzerland-based humanitarian organization responsible for introducing hexavalent vaccines into low-income countries, starting with Mauritania and Senegal. The group is also pushing for greater immunization equality worldwide.

In Mauritania alone, there are more than 35,000 underimmunized children. This results in exponentially higher infectious disease rates and an average lifespan 10 years shorter than that of the U.S. and other developed countries. The discrepancy can be attributed to lower levels of public health funding in impoverished countries like Mauritania. Without financial support, vaccines have also been too expensive to afford.

Katy Clark, a senior program manager at Gavi, expresses her frustration: “It wasn’t fair that high-income countries have had this combination vaccine for more than 20 years, while lower-income countries have had to wait.”

However, thanks to Gavi’s funding, Mauritania can purchase the 6-in-1 Vaccine for $3.00 per dose, which is $1.50 less than it would cost without Gavi’s support. The nation also saves money on labor and packaging, since the vaccine requires one fewer shot than the previous pentavalent and polio combination.

Conclusion

In the past 50 years, Gavi has vaccinated more than a billion children and prevented 40 million casualties from infectious diseases. This number can continue to increase through a strategic approach that prioritizes health care, affordable prices and humanitarian aid.

Global organizations like Gavi and UNICEF can provide targeted support by considering each nation’s specific needs and deficiencies, such as Mauritania’s hunger crisis and low vaccination rates. This approach can greatly improve the livelihoods of those in low-income countries.

The hexavalent vaccine has the potential to aid millions of people worldwide. Its path of trial and success demonstrates how crucial technological innovation is to the future of global health.

– Grace Gonzalez

Grace is based in Oakton, VA, USA and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels