The SARS-CoV-2 crisis and its impact on neglected tropical diseases: Threat or opportunity?

Chaumont, Claire; Kamara, Kimberly; Baring, Elisa; Palacio, Karen; Power, Ana; Lancaster, Warren

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0008680

Cited by 16 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…22,23,58 This is especially important as most programming is financed by donors whose operations have been dramatically hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic that will impact present and future NTD work. [52][53][54][55]174 Additionally, competing priorities in global health across diseases and programs accompanied by limited resources 175,176 justifies a call to leverage opportunities to integrate efforts to combat the leishmaniases with other diseases, such as HIV and malaria, that have more funding. 176,177 In light of the long-term severe disfigurement from CL leading to stigmatization, social exclusion, discrimination and psychosocial impacts, especially on rural women, which negatively affect social and economic opportunities, integrating mental health support and community educational interventions as the WHO has championed is warranted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…29 Although the global population living in poverty over the past two decades in low-and middle-income countries has been declining, it is necessary to assess persistence in vulnerability for regions where leishmaniasis is still largely prevalent. Fourth, the disruption of interventions caused by the raging COVID-19 pandemic threatens to set back years of progress on NTDs and related SDGs poverty targets because of synergistic exacerbating effects [52][53][54][55] and further threatens the attainment of the 2030 NTDs Roadmap. Fifth, 17% of the global burden of infectious diseases is from vector-borne diseases including the leishmaniases and the effect of climate change on these diseases is likely to get worse.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vulnerabilities to and the Socioeconomic and Psychosocial Impacts of the Leishmaniases: A Review

Grifferty¹,

Shirley²,

McGloin

et al. 2021

RRTM

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The leishmaniases are a group of four vector-borne neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) with 1.6 billion people in some 100 countries at risk. They occur in certain eco-epidemiological foci that reflect manipulation by human activities, such as migration, urbanization and deforestation, of which poverty, conflict and climate change are key drivers. Given their synergistic impacts, risk factors and the vulnerabilities of poor populations and the launch of a new 2030 roadmap for NTDs in the context of the global sustainability agenda, it is warranted to update the state of knowledge of the leishmaniases and their effects. Using existing literature, we review socioeconomic and psychosocial impacts of leishmaniasis within a framework of risk factors and vulnerabilities to help inform policy interventions. Studies show that poverty is an overarching primary risk factor. Low-income status fosters inadequate housing, malnutrition and lack of sanitation, which create and exacerbate complexities in access to care and treatment outcomes as well as education and awareness. The co-occurrence of the leishmaniases with malnutrition and HIV infection further complicate diagnosis and treatment, leading to poor diagnostic outcomes and therapeutic response. Even with free treatment, households may suffer catastrophic health expenditure from direct and indirect medical costs, which compounds existing financial strain in low-income communities for households and healthcare systems. The dermatological presentations of the leishmaniases may result in long-term severe disfigurement, leading to stigmatization, reduced quality of life, discrimination and mental health issues. A substantial amount of recent literature points to the vulnerability pathways and burden of leishmaniasis on women, in particular, who disproportionately suffer from these impacts. These emerging foci demonstrate a need for continued international efforts to address key risk factors and population vulnerabilities if leishmaniasis control, and ultimately elimination, is to be achieved by 2030.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerabilities to and the Socioeconomic and Psychosocial Impacts of the Leishmaniases: A Review

Grifferty¹,

Shirley²,

McGloin

et al. 2021

RRTM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Delayed ivermectin MDA, or reduced treatment coverage, could result not only from population-wide lockdowns to reduce COVID-19 transmission and the resulting redirection or disruption of health services, but also from shortages in drug availability (due to slower production and supply chains or exceeded drug shelf-life by the time MDA recommences). 6 , 7 Deadlines for drug orders (typically by August for delivery in the following year), as required by the Mectizan Donation Program (MDP, the body providing oversight for ivermectin donation to endemic countries), might also be problematic. In addition to these challenges, programmes will have to be adaptive in the face of unforeseen setbacks that may emerge as MDA recommences, remedial strategies (such as increased MDA coverage and/or frequency) are attempted and as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What does the COVID-19 pandemic mean for the next decade of onchocerciasis control and elimination?

Hamley

Blok

Walker

et al. 2021

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Background Mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin for onchocerciasis has been disrupted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Mathematical modelling can help predict how missed/delayed MDA will affect short-term epidemiological trends and elimination prospects by 2030. Methods Two onchocerciasis transmission models (EPIONCHO-IBM and ONCHOSIM) are used to simulate microfilarial prevalence trends, elimination probabilities and age profiles of Onchocerca volvulus microfilarial prevalence and intensity for different treatment histories and transmission settings, assuming no interruption, a 1-y (2020) interruption or a 2-y (2020–2021) interruption. Biannual MDA or increased coverage upon MDA resumption are investigated as remedial strategies. Results Programmes with shorter MDA histories and settings with high pre-intervention endemicity will be the most affected. Biannual MDA is more effective than increasing coverage for mitigating COVID-19’s impact on MDA. Programmes that had already switched to biannual MDA should be minimally affected. In high-transmission settings with short treatment history, a 2-y interruption could lead to increased microfilarial load in children (EPIONCHO-IBM) and adults (ONCHOSIM). Conclusions Programmes with shorter (annual MDA) treatment histories should be prioritised for remedial biannual MDA. Increases in microfilarial load could have short- and long-term morbidity and mortality repercussions. These results can guide decision-making to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on onchocerciasis elimination.

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“…closure of schools will prevent deworming campaigns through the education sector) [ 6 – 8 ]. Hence, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic not only has direct, but also indirect impacts on NTDs and these are likely to revert progress made over the past 10–15 years [ 9 , 10 ]. Mathematical modelling, such as that carried out by the NTD Modelling Consortium, can provide quantitative insights on how NTD programmes could be impacted by the delays [ 11 ].…”

Section: Direct and Indirect Impacts Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Efforts to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: potential entry points for neglected tropical diseases

et al. 2021

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Background The damage inflicted by the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic upon humanity is and will continue to be considerable. Unprecedented progress made in global health over the past 20 years has reverted and economic growth has already evaporated, giving rise to a global recession, the likes of which we may not have experienced since the Second World War. Our aim is to draw the attention of the neglected tropical disease (NTD) community towards some of the major emerging economic opportunities which are quickly appearing on the horizon as a result of COVID-19. Main text This scoping review relied on a literature search comprised of a sample of articles, statements, and press releases on initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of COVID-19, while supporting economic recovery. Of note, the donor scenario and economic development agendas are highly dynamic and expected to change rapidly as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, as are donor and lender priorities. Conclusions The NTD community, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), will need to work quickly, diligently, and in close collaboration with decision-makers and key stakeholders, across sectors at national and international level to secure its position. Doing so might enhance the odds of grasping potential opportunities to access some of the massive resources that are now available in the form of contributions from corporate foundations, trust funds, loans, debt relieve schemes, and other financial mechanisms, as part of the ongoing and future economic development agendas and public health priorities driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper should serve as a starting point for the NTD community to seek much needed financial support in order to sustain and revitalize control and elimination efforts pertaining to NTDs in LMICs.

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The SARS-CoV-2 crisis and its impact on neglected tropical diseases: Threat or opportunity?

Cited by 16 publications

References 3 publications

Vulnerabilities to and the Socioeconomic and Psychosocial Impacts of the Leishmaniases: A Review

Vulnerabilities to and the Socioeconomic and Psychosocial Impacts of the Leishmaniases: A Review

What does the COVID-19 pandemic mean for the next decade of onchocerciasis control and elimination?

Efforts to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: potential entry points for neglected tropical diseases

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