First discovered more than 100 years ago, Chagas disease continues to affect more than six million people worldwide and is one of the most prevalent public health problems in Latin America and, increasingly, on a global scale. In the last decades, migratory patterns have spread the disease to areas where it was previously unknown, including the United States of America (USA), Europe and the Western Pacific region. With an estimated 75 million individuals at risk of infection, Chagas disease is becoming a global health challenge with significant social and economic burdens for the people affected by it.<\/p>\n
Chagas disease is often referred to as a \u201csilent and silenced disease\u201d because it can show no symptoms, and it affects the most neglected populations in the world. Often, people living with Chagas disease have no access to healthcare, nor a political voice. \u201cTogether with our partners, scientific societies, foundations, patient organisations and the World Health Organization, we can reach out to all these different decision-makers to make sure that they invest, not only in diagnosis and treatment but also in innovation. We have to continue to better understand the disease and where we can find better solutions to manage it\u201d, says Prof Fausto Pinto, WHF President.<\/p>\n