Findings

Congress finds as follows: (1) Neglected diseases of poverty, many of which are also known as neglected tropical diseases, are a group of diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations living in extreme poverty. (2) More than 1,000,000,000 people worldwide are affected by neglected diseases of poverty. (3) Neglected diseases of poverty can be transmitted— (A) through contaminated food, water, and soil; (B) through parasites, insects, blood transfusion, and organ transplant; and (C) in some cases, congenitally. (4) Neglected diseases of poverty have a high rate of morbidity and mortality and can lead to health complications such as heart disease, epilepsy, asthma, blindness, developmental delays, stillbirth, low birthweight, and gastrointestinal disorders. (5) Some neglected diseases of poverty can be asymptomatic at the outset, but debilitating or dangerous symptoms can emerge over time or under certain conditions, such as pregnancy. It is estimated that millions of people are living with these diseases and are not aware that they are infected. (6) For tens of thousands of individuals, diseases of poverty that are chronic and neglected can manifest into severe illness later in life. (7) Neglected diseases of poverty place a significant financial burden on affected individuals and communities due to the health care costs associated with these diseases and because these diseases limit individuals’ productivity and ability to be active contributors to their communities. This burden could largely be prevented through early screening and treatment, which are highly cost effective. (8) Since its inception in 2006, the Neglected Tropical Diseases Program at the United States Agency for International Development and its partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have delivered more than 3,300,000,000 treatments to more than 1,700,000,000 people. (9) Due to the support provided by the United States Agency for International Development and its partners, 140,000,000 people live in regions where they are no longer at risk of contracting lymphatic filariasis, and 65,000,000 people live in regions where they are no longer at risk of contracting trachoma. (10) Although the exact prevalence and burden of these diseases in the United States is unknown because of stigma and limited reporting, surveillance, and awareness, one study estimates that there are 12,000,000 individuals living with a neglected disease of poverty throughout the country. These diseases disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities living in poverty and in regions where water quality and sanitation are substandard. (11) The major neglected diseases of poverty in the United States that predominantly occur among those living in poverty are the following: Tox­o­car­i­asis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, and Dengue Fever. (12) Despite recent advances in research and innovation, significant gaps remain in the availability of effective diagnostics, treatments, vaccines, and other critical tools needed to prevent, detect, treat, control, and eliminate neglected diseases of poverty. Many neglected diseases of poverty still lack effective point-of-care diagnostics, improved treatment options, child-appropriate therapies, or vaccines, limiting efforts to prevent infection, reduce morbidity and mortality, and achieve disease control and elimination. (13) Funding for research, preventive strategies, and the development of treatments, vaccines, diagnostic tests, and other tools for neglected diseases of poverty in the United States is limited.