Global Partners Launch Renewed Battle Against Chagas the 'Kissing Bug' Disease

Global Partners Launch Renewed Battle Against Chagas the 'Kissing Bug' Disease

July 10, 2007

Strategy Set Out to Eliminate Disease

    GENEVA, July 4 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- A new effort to
eliminate Chagas disease by 2010 will be launched tomorrow
at a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting of disease
experts and partners. The strategy is designed to answer
key questions about the treatment and control of Chagas
disease, and to coordinate global efforts toward the
prevention of transmission through a new Global Network for
Chagas Elimination.

    (Logo:
http://www.xprn.com.cn:9080/xprn/sa/20061102095006-51.jpg )

    "The establishment of the WHO Global Network to
combat Chagas disease occurs in the broader context of the
WHO's renewed fight against neglected tropical diseases.
The prospects for reducing the burden caused by these
diseases have changed dramatically in the past few years.
While Chagas disease is controlled in many countries in the
Americas, commitment must be strengthened as elimination of
the disease is now attainable. Cases identified in
non-endemic countries have demonstrated the need to
globalize our efforts," said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO
Director-General. 

    Chagas disease is a serious, potentially
life-threatening illness caused by a protozoan parasite
called T. cruzi. Early symptoms can include fever, fatigue,
swollen glands and heart pain, but in later years the
infection can lead to chronic debilitation caused by
progressive destruction of the heart muscle. It occurs
mainly in Latin America where, during the 1980s, over 20
million people were thought to be infected. Since then,
Latin American countries have made enormous efforts to
control the infection, such that current estimates suggest
that less than 8 million people remain infected. However,
the infection is no longer confined to the Americas because
of blood transmission and organ transplantation. Cases have
been identified in non-endemic countries in Europe, and in
Canada and the United States.

    "Remarkable success has been achieved in the
Region of the Americas in eliminating vectorial
transmission of Chagas. Much remains to be done, however,
to reduce the risk of transmission to recipients of blood
or blood products obtained from migrants from Chagas
endemic areas, and to ensure screening and diagnosis of
congenital Chagas disease," said Dr Mirta Roses,
Director of the Pan American Health Organization and
Regional Director of the WHO Americas Region. The Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO) has worked with the
countries on sub-regional initiatives to prevent, control
and treat Chagas with key partners, including Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Agence Canadienne
de Developpement International (ACDI), Agencia Espa?ola de
Cooperacion Internacional (AECI), Medecins sans Frontieres
(MSF), International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and
others.

    "The Pan American Health Organization's successes
in Chagas' control are a significant contribution to the
global strategy to eliminate this debilitating
disease," said Dr David L. Heymann, WHO's Assistant
Director-General for Communicable Diseases. "The new
WHO Global Network for Chagas Elimination will ensure we
leverage and expand upon the successes in Latin
America."

    The parasite that causes Chagas disease is called T.
cruzi and is mainly transmitted by large blood-sucking
insects, sometimes known as 'kissing bugs', which often
colonize the homes of poorer rural communities in Latin
America. But the parasite can also be transmitted by blood
transfusion or organ transplant from infected donors, and
occasionally by transplacental passage from infected mother
to new-born baby. In some regions, particularly in the
southern cone countries of South America, the chronic
infection can also give rise to severe intestinal problems
requiring complex corrective surgery. 

    Comprised of expert-led technical groups, the WHO
Global Network will focus on several key aspects of the
Chagas problem including:

    -- Strengthening epidemiological surveillance and
information systems;
    -- Preventing transmission by blood transfusion and
organ transplantation 
       in endemic and non-endemic countries;
    -- Identifying a diagnostic test(s) for screening and
diagnosis of 
       infections;
    -- Expanding secondary prevention of congenital
transmission and case 
       management of congenital and non-congenital
infections; and
    -- Promoting a consensus on adequate case management.

    In keeping with the goal of eliminating Chagas disease
by 2010, the WHO Global Network will develop a five-pillar
strategy before the end of this year. The efforts to
eliminate Chagas disease are enhanced by the pharmaceutical
industry, which is providing financial support to the
Network, along with donations of one of the two drugs known
to be effective for the treatment of the disease. 

    Earlier this year, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan
-- together with partners from across the public, private
and non-governmental sectors -- launched a campaign to
address neglected diseases. An estimated 1 billion people
are affected by one or more of these diseases, very often
the victims are among the poorest populations. 

    All press releases, fact sheets and other WHO media
material may be found at http://www.who.int .




    For more information, please contact: 

    WHO, Geneva
     John Rainford, 
     Communications Officer, Pandemic and Outbreak
Communications
     Tel:    [phone]
     Mobile: [phone] 
     Email:  [e-mail]

    PAHO/WHO
     Daniel Epstein, 
     Information Officer
     Tel:    [phone]
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]