Emerging and neglected tropical diseases pose a significant threat to global health security and the bioeconomy, particularly in the context of climate change. These diseases, often vector-, water-, and foodborne, are influenced by the interplay of climate hazards, vulnerability, and exposure. Resource-limited countries, where land development heightens the risk of zoonotic exposure and transmission, are particularly susceptible. Vulnerable populations face increased risks due to land use changes and shifting environmental conditions, which may lead to the spread of these diseases to new geographic areas. Current research highlights the urgent need for diverse technological solutions, from clinical diagnostic tools to advanced biodetection techniques, to address these threats. However, there remains a gap in the availability and accessibility of these technologies for vulnerable populations. Additionally, early warning systems, such as human mobility monitoring and ecotone molecular surveillance, are crucial for identifying early animal-human spillovers, yet their implementation is still lacking.
This research topic aims to explore the global accessibility of technologies and resources designed to combat emerging and re-emerging tropical diseases. The focus will be on advances in technologies suitable for resource-limited settings and strategies for infectious disease surveillance that enable agnostic pathogen detection. By addressing these areas, the research seeks to enhance equity and access to diagnostic and surveillance tools for vulnerable populations.
To gather further insights in the accessibility and implementation of diagnostic and surveillance tools in low-resource settings, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Disease case studies in emerging and neglected tropical diseases
- Applications of unbiased detection towards identifying emerging tropical disease pathogens
- Public health emergency preparedness and response for emerging tropical diseases, as related to integration of detection technologies
- Global health initiatives to further advocate the importance of neglected tropical diseases.
Emerging and neglected tropical diseases pose a significant threat to global health security and the bioeconomy, particularly in the context of climate change. These diseases, often vector-, water-, and foodborne, are influenced by the interplay of climate hazards, vulnerability, and exposure. Resource-limited countries, where land development heightens the risk of zoonotic exposure and transmission, are particularly susceptible. Vulnerable populations face increased risks due to land use changes and shifting environmental conditions, which may lead to the spread of these diseases to new geographic areas. Current research highlights the urgent need for diverse technological solutions, from clinical diagnostic tools to advanced biodetection techniques, to address these threats. However, there remains a gap in the availability and accessibility of these technologies for vulnerable populations. Additionally, early warning systems, such as human mobility monitoring and ecotone molecular surveillance, are crucial for identifying early animal-human spillovers, yet their implementation is still lacking.
This research topic aims to explore the global accessibility of technologies and resources designed to combat emerging and re-emerging tropical diseases. The focus will be on advances in technologies suitable for resource-limited settings and strategies for infectious disease surveillance that enable agnostic pathogen detection. By addressing these areas, the research seeks to enhance equity and access to diagnostic and surveillance tools for vulnerable populations.
To gather further insights in the accessibility and implementation of diagnostic and surveillance tools in low-resource settings, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Disease case studies in emerging and neglected tropical diseases
- Applications of unbiased detection towards identifying emerging tropical disease pathogens
- Public health emergency preparedness and response for emerging tropical diseases, as related to integration of detection technologies
- Global health initiatives to further advocate the importance of neglected tropical diseases.