Chile’s Leprosy-Free Status Signals Hope for Eradicating Neglected Diseases

Quick Smiles:

• New in-womb spina bifida therapy boosts baby mobility.
• Chile eliminates leprosy, first in Americas.
• Indigenous victory saves Amazon Tapajós River.

Groundbreaking medical advances are transforming lives with innovative fetal surgery for spina bifida.

Trial participants received stem cells from the mother’s placenta applied to the baby’s spine during womb repair.

Six mothers joined the phase one study, results published in The Lancet.

“Our family couldn’t feel more blessed,” said Michelle Johnson, whose son Tobi was born in 2022. “Tobi’s physical and mental abilities are nothing short of a miracle.”

Diana Farmer, chair of UC Davis Surgery, said the procedure “paves the way for new treatment options for children with birth defects”.

Aijun Wang, co-inventor, called it a “major step toward a new kind of fetal therapy”.

Shine charity deemed the results “very exciting”.

A new immunotherapy, VIR-5500, delivered remarkable results for advanced prostate cancer patients unresponsive to prior treatments.

Nearly half of 58 trial participants saw tumors shrink, with mostly mild side effects.

The Institute of Cancer Research led the study, noting prostate cancer’s resistance to immunotherapy until now.

“Immunotherapy has transformed the outcomes for many people with cancer but for those with prostate cancer its benefits have often remained out of reach,” said Prof Kristian Helin, ICR chief executive. “It’s encouraging to see this innovative approach showing promising effects in early clinical studies.”

Chile earned verification as leprosy-free from WHO, the first in the Americas and second worldwide after Jordan.

Sustained efforts included prevention, early diagnosis, better treatments, and follow-ups.

WHO called it a “landmark public health achievement” and “a powerful testament to what leadership, science, and solidarity can accomplish”.

“Chile’s elimination of leprosy sends a clear message to the world: with sustained commitment, inclusive health services, integrated public health strategies, early detection and universal access to care, we can consign ancient diseases to history,” said WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Indigenous defenders triumphed over Brazil’s government and Cargill by occupying a grain terminal, halting Tapajós River dredging and privatization for soy shipments.

“The transformation of Amazonian rivers into routes for economic exploitation directly threatens Indigenous territories, traditional ways of life, food security, biodiversity and the environmental balance of the entire region,” said the Federation of Indigenous Peoples.

“This proves that life – the river – has no price. It cannot be sold, it is not negotiable. That’s why we will never back down,” said campaigner Maria Leusa.

Ukraine’s Lake Kartal wetland restoration in the Danube Delta persists amid war, reconnecting it to the River Danube.

Ecosystems rebounded rapidly with rising water levels, better quality, more fish, returning birds, and irrigation benefits.

“It has been amazing to see how quickly wetlands in the Danube Delta can become wilder,” said Oleg Dyakov of Rewilding Ukraine. “We have seen different parts of the landscape bounce back almost immediately.”

These victories inspire us all—spread the joy of positive change and stay connected for weekly uplifting updates!

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