Table 1 Summary of the nine neglected tropical diseases studied in these papers, where elimination refers to elimination as a public health problem. Data sources: WHO

Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)

Worm transmitted by mosquito

Tropical and subtropical countries in Africa, Asia, the Western Pacific, the Caribbean and South America

Annual/biannual MDA (ivermectin, albendazole and DEC), vector control through insecticide-treated bed nets or spraying

Global elimination

Onchocerciasis (river blindness)

Worm transmitted by black fly

Primarily occurs in tropical sub-Saharan Africa (99 % of cases)

MDA (ivermectin) and vector control

Country elimination

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia)

Intestinal worm, water-borne transmission with snail intermediate host

Affect at least 240 million people worldwide. Most commonly found in Africa, as well as Asia and South-America

MDA (praziquantel) to school-agechildren and high-risk adults, along with WASH and possible snail control

Regional and country elimination

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (roundworm, whipworm, hookworm)

Intestinal worms transmitted via soil contaminated with fecal matter

Over 1 billion people affected, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, India and Southeast Asian countries

MDA (albendazole, mebendazole) treatment of school-aged children. Treatment of pre-school aged children and women of childbearing age is also recommended.

75 % coverage with (bi)annual PCT

Blinding trachoma

Bacterial infection transmitted by flies, fingers and fomites.

84 million active cases globally.

MDA (azithromycin) and surgery, along with improved hygiene

Global elimination

Chagas disease

Protozoan transmitted by triatomines (kissing bugs)

8 million infected in the Americas, 10,000 deaths per year.

Spraying with indoor residual insecticides, housing improvements.

Regional elimination

HAT (sleeping sickness), Gambian form

Protozoan transmitted by tsetse fly

<4000 new cases in 2014

Treatment, active/mass screening and vector control with tsetse targets.

Global elimination

Leprosy

Bacterium with unclear mode of transmission: contact or droplet likely

200,000 new diagnoses per year, >80 % from India, Brazil and Indonesia

Early diagnosis and treatment

Global elimination

Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in the Indian sub-continent

Protozoan transmitted by sand fly

200,000–400,000 cases annually, 80 % in Indian sub-continent.

Indoor residual spraying of insecticides, insecticide-treated bed nets, active case detection, rapid diagnosis and treatment

Regional elimination