A Focus on Infectious Diseases

Scores of infectious diseases threaten humankind – both familiar ones like malaria, HIV, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases, as well as emerging viruses and bacterial infections such as Ebola, H5N1 avian flu and Zika. April’s Global Health newsletter highlights USAID’s work in malaria, NTDs, emerging threats and previews a new exhibit: Outbreak.

U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Releases 12th Annual Report

On April 25th, the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) released its 12th Annual Report to Congress, which describes the U.S. Government’s contributions to the global fight against malaria. Read the full story .

USAID Welcomes Dr. Ken Staley, U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator

In April, Dr. Kenneth Staley began his tenure as the new Global Malaria Coordinator with PMI. Dr. Staley’s appointment by the White House was announced April 9. Dr. Staley takes the helm of PMI at a pivotal time. Malaria still kills 445,000 people each year, mostly children under age five, and sickens hundreds of millions more, often over and over again. Read the full story .

Neglected Tropical Disease Program at 10

More than 1 billion people – one-seventh of the world’s population – suffer from one or more neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Often the source of deep stigma, NTDs cause disability, severe disfigurement and blindness. These diseases affect the world’s most vulnerable populations with devastating, lifelong disabilities that contribute to ensnaring individuals, families and even entire communities in poverty. Read the full story.

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Media Mentions

Global Health Highlights

Preventing the Next Outbreak

Infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics are on the rise, threatening health and economic growth as well social stability, disproportionately affecting the poorest countries throughout the world, and posing direct threats to Americans’ health at home and abroad. On March 13, senior representatives from USAID, CDC, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Agriculture and private and public Global Health Security Agenda partners launched a report, Implementing the Global Health Security Agenda: Progress and Impact from U.S. Government Investments [PDF, 4.2MB], and held a discussion about how U.S. agencies are addressing these challenges and achieving results through results-oriented global partnerships.

Surviving the Snails of Uganda: A Young Man’s Brush with a Mysterious Disease

As a teenager, Francis Angumya often played with his friends in Africa’s largest lake, not understanding the dangers that lurked underneath. The 23-year-old student had left his home in rural Uganda to pursue a better education and brighter future – a search that ultimately brought him to the shores of Lake Victoria. He had enrolled at an all-boys high school just a short drive from Entebbe, a popular holiday destination on the lake’s northern shores. His wistful memories of afternoons swimming in Lake Victoria have all but washed away – replaced by a terrifying experience that changed his life forever. Read more of Francis' story on USAID's Medium blog.

New Smithsonian Exhibition Explores Pandemics and Emerging Infectious Diseases

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., will mark the 100th anniversary of the Great Influenza pandemic of 1918 with a new exhibition, "Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World," which has a One Health focus and will remain on view for the public for three years.