Collaboration in science, particularly health sciences, and technology has been an enduring feature of the U.S.-India relationship for over three decades. Many special initiatives have been undertaken over the years in an effort to advance cooperation more rapidly and effectively in these areas. One of the most important and successful initiatives has been the Indo-U.S. Vaccine Action Program (VAP).

NIAID is developing multiple vaccine candidates to prevent Zika virus infection. These include:

The good news about neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is that many are treatable with existing drugs. Certain treatments are easy to administer and do not require health professionals. The bad news is that, while drug treatments are available for many NTDs, they don’t often reach the people most in need.

Several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are transmitted by infected insects. For example, Chagas disease is transmitted by the triatomine, or “kissing,” bug and can lead to life-long cardiac problems; leishmaniasis is transmitted by infected sand flies and can lead to sores that cause permanent scarring; onchocerciasis is transmitted by infected black flies and can lead to blindness; and dengue fever, which can lead to circulatory failure, and lymphatic filariasis, which can lead to extreme swelling of the genitalia or limbs, are both transmitted by infected mosquitoes.

Symptoms of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) vary dramatically from disease to disease. Some immediately present symptoms such as fever, aches, rash, sores, or swelling of the lymph nodes or at the site of infection.

Some NTDs, such as sleeping sickness, leprosy, and guinea-worm disease, may not present symptoms for one or several years.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are largely preventable, even without vaccines. Clean water, sanitary food handling, and good hygiene can prevent diseases such as guinea-worm disease, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and trachoma.

Many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) can be diagnosed in the laboratory using simple and inexpensive microscopy, serology, and culture techniques. Some diseases, particularly those caused by parasites, can be detected in stool samples.