研究人員推動將弓形蟲病列為全球被忽視的疾病
Researchers push for global recognition of toxoplasmosis as a neglected disease
Updated at: June 26, 2026 at 05:00 AM
一個由全球研究人員組成的聯盟正敦促世界衛生組織將弓形蟲症歸類為被忽視的熱帶疾病(NTD)。
A global coalition of researchers is urging the World Health Organization to classify toxoplasmosis as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD).
這種感染由弓形蟲(Toxoplasma gondii)寄生蟲引起，影響了全球約三分之一的人口。
Caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the infection affects roughly one-third of the world’s population.
雖然許多健康的成年人沒有症狀，但該疾病可能會導致嚴重的健康併發症，特別是導致失明的眼部弓形蟲症，以及在懷孕期間傳播時對新生兒造成的毀滅性先天問題。
While many healthy adults show no symptoms, the disease can cause severe health complications, particularly ocular toxoplasmosis leading to blindness, and devastating congenital issues in newborns when transmitted during pregnancy.
儘管弓形蟲症帶來巨大的健康負擔，卻經常被忽視。
Despite its massive health burden, toxoplasmosis is frequently overlooked.
目前尚無疫苗，現有的治療方法僅能控制症狀，無法治癒慢性感染。
Currently, there is no vaccine, and existing treatments only manage symptoms rather than curing the chronic infection.
專家認為，將弓形蟲症正式確認為NTD對於解決這些差距至關重要。
Experts argue that formally recognizing toxoplasmosis as an NTD is critical to addressing these gaps.
這樣的指定可以為疫苗和診斷的研究開啟關鍵資金，同時促進全球標準化的產前篩檢和改進的食品安全協議。
Such a designation could unlock essential funding for research into vaccines and diagnostics, while fostering standardized prenatal screening and improved food safety protocols worldwide.
透過將全球觀點從視該寄生蟲為不可避免轉向視其為可控的威脅，倡議者希望顯著減少全球最脆弱人群中可預防的殘疾。
By shifting the global perspective from viewing the parasite as unavoidable to seeing it as a manageable threat, advocates hope to significantly reduce preventable disabilities among the world's most vulnerable populations.
