Some diseases are more neglected than others. This is the case with snakebites, which are responsible for more than 100,000 deaths every year worldwide. A recent MSF publication in Toxicon X highlights the resources needed to improve the management of snakebite venom poisoning in resource-limited settings.

On International Snakebite Awareness Day (September 19th), we heard from Dr Mark McNicol, recently returned from MSF assignment in Lankien, a remote rural area in Jonglei State, South Sudan, where being bitten by a snake can mean profound and long-term impacts for people.

As COVID retreats — for the moment at least — in many places around the world, a space is opening up for urgent attention to be given once more to other global health challenges.

On February 9th, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency announced two confirmed cases and one probable (since confirmed) case of Lassa fever. One of these patients has since died. Cases of Lassa fever are unusual for this part of the world — prior to these cases, only 8 cases had ever been identified in the country, with the last two in 2009.

As we turn the corner on another challenging year for the world, we want to share with you some of our hopes and dreams for better times ahead and some of the work our colleagues have been doing around the world to make them real.