New WHO report stresses that the tools to control NZDs already exist

A newly published WHO report finds that most neglected zoonotic diseases can be controlled through the use of existing knowledge and tools. The report urges accelerated action by the global community in line with World Health Assembly resolutions that provide the policy framework to act collectively against these diseases.

“The international community must rise up and take responsibility in pushing ahead for the control and elimination of these neglected zoonotic diseases,” said Dr Bernadette Abela-Ridder, Team Leader, Neglected Zoonotic Diseases, WHO Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. “These infections affect mainly poor segments of populations that interact closely with animals and our role should be to implement proven measures now that can contribute to the health and improved livelihood of affected families.” 

The report is based on the fourth international meeting on neglected zoonotic diseases "From Advocacy to Action” (held in Geneva, Switzerland, 19–20 November 2014 ) hosted by WHO, which was attended by more than 120 delegates and financially supported by the European Union seventh framework programme through the ADVANZ (Advocacy for neglected zoonotic diseases) programme. It highlights the need for and potential of intersectoral collaboration in adopting a global ‘one-health approach’, particularly at the subnational level. Scaling up of known effective methods requires a combination of leadership and community-level engagement for greater impact. The report also discusses opportunities for innovative funding mechanisms to support control outside traditional donor models. These include initiatives stemming from national bodies and the private sector.

"We have existing knowledge and evidence that can be transformed into strategies and applied on a large-scale,” said Dr Dirk Engels, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. “We need to be able to capitalize on experience and the growing political commitment to involve other sectors, with community participation, to speed up the elimination agenda.”

The report states that achieving a world free from dog-mediated human rabies by 2030 is feasible with current tools and increased investment, as demonstrated by recent rabies success stories. However, the report notes other endemic zoonoses such as echinococcushave a low political profile, attract scant investment and are unlikely to achieve their 2020 target.

Discussions focused on increased recognition of zoonotic diseases and initiatives by national governments to mitigate their impact on citizens by implementing control programmes. Many countries provided examples of programmes that are advancing control of some neglected zoonoses, both at national and local levels, from across three continents.

WHO’s 2012 Roadmap on accelerating work to overcome the global impact of neglected tropical diseases and Resolution WHA66.12 adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2013 have enhanced the visibility of neglected diseases with zoonotic components – notably rabies, cysticercosis, echinococcosis, human African trypanosomiasis, foodborne trematodiases and leishmaniasis. There is now an important opportunity to mobilize existing knowledge, experience and political will, and move from advocacy to action.

Summarized from the WHO article here from where you can also download the full report