Brazil managed to reduce leprosy cases by 30%, says WHO report

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the decline of leprosy cases in Brazil and Africa, unlike what happened in other parts of the world. In Brazil, the fall was 31% compared to 2010 results. Other Portuguese-speaking countries such as Angola and Mozambique, fell by 75% in cases of the disease.

The data are in "Mantendo a Iniciativa para Superar o Impacto Global de Doenças Negligenciadas" report, published on Wednesday (16) in Geneva. The survey examined the period between 2004 and 2011.

The document cites 17 neglected tropical diseases among them leishmanioese, malaria, guinea worm, river blindness and Chagas disease, among others.

Another infection, considered by WHO as neglected is dengue.

The organization also said it is concerned about cases of human rabies transmitted by bats, especially in remote areas of the Amazon region, especially Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

<b> Plans </ b>

The document highlights Brazil's plans to eliminate trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. The challenges cited in the report include the fight against Chagas disease, an infection that most affect the country.

The UN agency predicts, for example, that treatment only for schistosomiasis should reach 235 million people over the next five years.

<b> treatment for neglected diseases </ b>

Approximately 711 million people worldwide have been treated for at least one of the major neglected tropical diseases in 2010

The report highlights progress, unprecedented in the last two years showing that the world is closer to eliminating many diseases that affect the poorest.

According to WHO, the advance is due to a new global strategy that includes regular supply of assured quality, cost-effective medicines and support of global partners in the fight against neglected tropical diseases.

With UN <i> information </ i>

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