5. Yellow fever
Emerging almost a century ago, yellow fever had disappeared due to vaccination campaigns. However, it resurfaced in Africa and America in the early 2000s, when around 40 countries were identified as being at high risk. Brazil and Nigeria in particular are at risk of major outbreaks in 2018.
4. Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an infectious and highly contagious respiratory illness. There are two forms: respiratory diphtheria which induces paralysis of the central nervous system or of the diaphragm and the throat, leading to death by asphyxia, and cutaneous diphtheria. In 2017, diphtheria outbreaks were reported in Venezuela, Indonesia, Yemen and Bangladesh.
3. Malaria
Of the 200 million people affected by malaria every year, around 400,000 die from this mosquito borne disease, 90% of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, the Congo, Somalia, etc.) and 10% spread between South East Asia, South America, the western Pacific and the eastern Mediterranean.
2. Malnutrition
The WHO have described food shortages in Africa as a serious challenge this year. 45% of child deaths worldwide are linked to malnutrition, a scourge which is far from disappearing.
1. Conflicts and wars
The establishment of treatments, vital infrastructure and personal care become victims of the ravages of war and diplomatic conflicts, making it more difficult, if not impossible, to treat certain diseases and chronic pathologies that would otherwise be treatable. This in fact kills more people than bombs and bullets….