Booker Introduces Legislation to Help Eliminate Neglected Diseases of Poverty in United States

Statement

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced the STOP (Study, Treat, Observe, and Prevent) Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act, legislation that would provide the necessary tools to address, and ultimately eliminate, neglected diseases of poverty in the United States.

Neglected diseases of poverty, many of which are neglected tropical diseases are a group of chronic and disabling illnesses, such as chagas and dengue fever, that primarily impact those living in extreme poverty. They are caused by parasites, bacteria, and other pathogens and disproportionally impact the most vulnerable segments of the country, contributing to massive social and health disparities. An estimated 12 million Americans are affected by these debilitating diseases, which are common in places where there is a lack of sewage infrastructure, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate housing and sanitation.

Public health initiatives in the past century were supposed to have eliminated these diseases in the United States, but in reality, they exist in greater numbers than previously thought. Because conventional wisdom holds that these diseases have been eradicated, monitoring has been limited, and doctors aren't required to report cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Booker's bill is the first to focus exclusively on the presence of these diseases in the U.S. Other bills attack the issue from a global perspective.

"Across the poorest parts of our country people are facing appalling realities that would shock the consciousness of many Americans. Diseases commonly associated with developing countries, such as hookworm and dengue fever, are sprouting right here in the U.S. -- and disproportionately impacting our most underserved communities. This is an injustice that has been largely hidden from most Americans and highlights a gross inequality, where large swaths of this country are regularly exposed to raw sewage and contaminated drinking water," Senator Booker said. "People who live in extreme poverty are suffering from diseases that many thought had been eradicated because their communities lack the proper resources. We need to address this challenge by raising awareness and boosting investment in research and monitoring."

Source