Loomis Chaffee World Bulletin

to the disease; because of Sudan, and Tanzania. A this vulnerability, malaria progressive and debilitating kills nearly 3,000 children syndrome, Nodding has per day in Africa (5% affected more than 3,000 of all African children), children. Symptoms include according to the Johns epilepsy-like seizures, Hopkins Malaria Research confusion, inability Institute. to accept change, and Other diseases, such pyromania. The cause and as HIV/AIDS, Marburg’s, the cure are unknown. But tuberculosis, and Ebola World Health Organization Zaire are also rampant on (WHO) officials say 93% of the continent. HIV/AIDS cases are found in areas also actually originated in Africa with the parasitic worm in the early twentieth Onchocerca Volvulus, which century, and was discovered causes river blindness and is through genetic research carried by the black fly, and done by Paul M. Sharp thus suggest that perhaps and Beatrice H. Hahn at the worm and the disease the Cold Spring Harbor are linked. Nevertheless, Laboratory in September scientists are focusing Map of HIV prevalence in Africa of 2011. According to the their efforts on the aboveUnited Nations Global AIDS Report in 2010, “an mentioned diseases instead of trying to predict future estimated 11.3 million people were living with HIV in maladies. southern Africa in 2009.” HIV has devastated southern There are initiatives in place to confront Africa’s Africa, in particular, with countries like Swaziland, invisible enemy. Supported by many African nations Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa (such as Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia, and ranking in the top 5 of Tunisia) private-sector total HIV cases in the partners like the population, while Libya Global Fund to Fight and Egypt hold much AIDS, Tuberculosis, better rankings, 81st and Malaria seeks to nd and 122 , respectively, use Africa’s natural among other north resources to improve African nations. (CIA the health of its peoples.

World Factbook, HIV These organizations country comparison) have dedicated many Marburg’s disease and resources to help Ebola are sporadically address the issue, infectious diseases thereby saving lives that are extremely and reducing economic fatal but do not have loss. as widespread effect as Many developing HIV or malaria. nations in Africa hold In addition to huge potential to these well-known, become prosperous rampant diseases, and powerful, but until several countries have the invisible enemy become home to rare, of infectious disease unidentifiable diseases. is eliminated, their A recent example conceivable success President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) is a U.S. Government initiative, begun is Nodding disease, in 2005 when President George W. Bush pledged to increase U.S. funding will be forever held most frequently found of malaria prevention and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa by more than back.

14 in northern Uganda, $1.2 billion over 5 years.