By AFPMore by this AuthorGENEVAThe World Health Organisation on Wednesday hailed “unprecedented progress” in the fight against 18 neglected tropical diseases — including dengue fever and sleeping sickness — which kill 170,000 people and disable millions each year. “It’s really a story of wonderful progress,” the billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates said in Geneva. “A lot of pieces have come together.”His comments came as WHO launched its latest report on the battle against so-called NTDs. The worm, which exists in South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia and Mali, enters the body when people drink stagnant water contaminated with parasite-infected water fleas. SLEEPING SICKNESSIn its bid to exit the body, the worms, which can be up to a metre long, dig their way out of the body, including through the eyes and genitals.

Source: Daily Nation April 19, 2017 15:45 UTC