Neglected Tropical Diseases

The 20 Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are very ancient diseases affecting practically exclusively the poorest of the poor populations in the world which means hundreds of millions of people. The extreme lack of attention (neglect) for these diseases led the World Health Organization to elaborate the concept of NTDs in 1995. This MOOC will set out the different steps which led the concept to a reality.

This online course describe a large and representative set of NTDs such asLymphatic Filariasis, Visceral Leishmaniasis, Schistosomiasis, Human African Trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease. It covers their diagnostic, treatment and management of patients as well as their underlying pathogenic mechanisms. As most of these diseases are zoonosis, their study will be placed under the concept of “One Health”, encompassing veterinary, entomological, and specific epidemiological aspects. 

This MOOC will show how the paradigm shift from individual management approach to an elimination broad programme has been the cornerstone of success. Finally, this MOOC will demonstrate how progress in elimination have stimulated research and innovation in new fields like computational biology and modeling.