Tropical diseases Meeting in Allschwil BL to fight the deadly noma disease

The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) organized an international symposium in Allschwil BL on Friday to combat the deadly Noma disease. Experts developed a research agenda together with Noma survivors from Nigeria and Mozambique, as reported by Swiss TPH.

Around 100 scientists from all over the world took part in the conference. The event was organized together with "Elysium", an association of Noma survivors. According to the Swiss TPH commuiqué, a joint research agenda is intended to improve the evidence base on this disease and develop a strategy in the fight against noma.

At the conference, Elysium President Mulikat Okanlawon emphasized the need to involve noma survivors like her in research. "We have already achieved a lot by putting noma on the list of neglected tropical diseases, but we can do more," she is quoted as saying in the press release.

Noma mainly affects young children living in extreme poverty. The disease begins seemingly harmlessly with sore gums and a slight bad breath. At this stage, it could easily be cured with an antibiotic. If it remains untreated, the infection spreads to the surrounding tissue. The entire face is attacked and "literally eaten away by the infection", as the story continues. Up to 90 percent of those affected die from noma if they are not treated.

SDA