WHO Reports Major Gains Against Neglected Diseases
The World Health Organization says treatment needs for neglected tropical diseases fell by more than a third between 2010 and 2024, even as global aid cuts threaten progress.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Diseases — General
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The World Health Organization reports major progress against neglected tropical diseases, with the number of people requiring treatment falling by more than a third between 2010 and 2024, to 1.41 billion. Cases of sleeping sickness have dropped 98 per cent since 1999, and Guinea worm infections fell to a record low of 10 human cases last year.
Why it matters
Global aid to fight neglected tropical diseases was dramatically cut after last year, leaving programs in poor tropical regions more vulnerable. Gains against the diseases could be reversed if funding does not recover, and resources remain 30 per cent below pre-Covid-19 levels.
The figures come from WHO tracking of treatment needs, which shows 1.41 billion people requiring care in 2024, down by more than a third since 2010. Dengue cases, however, reached a record 15.1 million in 2024, and it remains unclear how resource shortfalls will affect progress on vector-borne diseases.
The players
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is the United Nations agency responsible for international public health, including coordinating the fight against neglected tropical diseases.
The details
Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of conditions found mainly in poor tropical regions, including dengue, leprosy and rabies. A growing number of countries have eliminated at least one of these diseases, and new tools such as a dengue vaccine have expanded prevention and treatment options. Deaths from vector-borne neglected tropical diseases have generally risen, and a small number of donors provided nearly 80 per cent of international development assistance for the diseases between 2018 and 2024.
Timeline
1999: Sleeping sickness case decline of 98 per cent begins to be tracked.
2010 to 2024: Number of people requiring neglected tropical disease treatment falls by more than a third.
2018 to 2024: Small group of donors provides nearly 80 per cent of international aid for the diseases.
2024: Dengue cases reach a record 15.1 million.
Last year (2025): Global aid is dramatically cut and Guinea worm infections hit a record low of 10 human cases.
Health Landscape
The report extends the WHO's neglected tropical disease elimination program, which has seen countries eradicate individual diseases such as Guinea worm and reduce sleeping sickness by 98 per cent since 1999. Its findings suggest the program's gains now depend on whether donor funding, which has been heavily concentrated in a few sources, can be restored to pre-pandemic levels.
For people living in endemic tropical regions, progress against these diseases could mean fewer infections and reduced need for treatment. Shortfalls in funding, however, may limit access to medicines and prevention tools, particularly for vector-borne illnesses such as dengue.
The takeaway
Sustained progress against neglected tropical diseases depends on protecting funding that has been concentrated among a small number of donors. Supporting prevention efforts and vaccines today can help limit future outbreaks in the regions most affected.
Further reading
For broader context on infectious conditions, see Diseases — General coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NST Online.
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