On 22 May, World Heart
Federation (WHF) held a WHA side event, in collaboration with the Chagas
Coalition and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), titled Chagas
Disease: Breaking the Silence.
The event aimed to raise
awareness of Chagas Disease, especially in light of the upcoming WHO
Roadmap on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and to support the
campaign for an official WHO World Chagas Day, which was approved just a few
days later by the World Health Assembly.
Here are some key facts about Chagas disease.
Here are some key facts about Chagas disease.
· Chagas
disease is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi
transmitted by triatomine bugs.
· Vector-borne
transmission in poor housing conditions occurs exclusively in the Americas,
where an estimated 6 to 8 million people are infected.
· The
epidemiology of the disease is changing due to successful reduction of
transmission in endemic areas as well as migration of individuals within and
outside of endemic areas.
· Thousands
of infected individuals live in cities across Latin America and in the United
States, Spain, and other European countries.
· The
infective trypomastigote form of the T. cruzi parasite is present in
large numbers in the feces of infected triatomine bugs.
· During
or immediately after a blood meal, the triatomine bug defecates on the skin of
the host, allowing the organism to enter through the bite wound or via intact
conjunctiva or mucous membranes.
· The
risk of infection in the setting of short-term exposure is low.
· On
average, 900 to 4000 contacts with infected vectors are needed to result in
infection.
· In
endemic areas, T. cruzi infection is usually acquired in childhood and
persists for life.
· About
70-80% of infected individuals have lifelong asymptomatic infection.
· The
prevalence of clinical disease increases with age, reflecting onset of cardiac
and gastrointestinal manifestations in early adulthood with progression over a
period of years to decades.
· Disease
transmission can also occur vertically from mother to fetus, via transfusion of
infected blood components, via organ transplantation from an infected donor,
via ingestion of contaminated food or drink, or via laboratory exposure.
· Most
congenitally infected infants are asymptomatic or have nonspecific signs;
specific laboratory screening is needed to detect congenital infections in infants.
·
Transmission by domestic vectors has been reduced via
residual application of long-lasting insecticides in human dwellings and
peridomestic structures.
WHA72 key outcomes
· Member
states agreed on a new global strategy on health, environment and climate
change: the transformation needed to improve lives and well-being sustainably
through healthy environments
· Member
States agreed on a decision to accelerate and scale up action to prevent and
treat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), primarily cancer, diabetes, and heart
and lung diseases, and to meet global targets to reduce the number of people
dying prematurely from these diseases
· Member
States also expressed wide support for the WHO Access Roadmap for Medicines, Vaccines
and other health products, which will determine WHO’s work on this issue for
the next five years.
· The
World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on improving the transparency of
markets for medicines, vaccines and other health products in an effort to
expand access. The resolution urges Member States to enhance public sharing of
information on actual prices paid by governments and other buyers for health
products, but stops short of compelling pharmaceutical companies to disclose
R&D costs.
· Member
States agreed to establish World Chagas Day, to be celebrated each year on 14
April. Chagas is a neglected tropical disease which currently affects between 6
and 7 million people, mostly in Latin America.
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri Awardee
President Elect Confederation of
Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania
(CMAAO)
Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President Heart Care Foundation of
India
Past National President
IMA
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