Some of the world’s most unpleasant parasites and diseases are also some of the ones most easily cured.  Unfortunately, the places most susceptible to epidemics of horrible parasites are also the places where there’s no money for antibiotics, water filters, and mosquito nets.  That’s where the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation steps in, with $34 million bucks to fight these seven unpleasant diseases you may not be familiar with.

I’m not really squeamish, but if you mention hookworms, roundworms, or flatworms, I get the willies.  I am absolutely, painfully terrified of having some sort of disease where worms grow in my body.  There’s a movie from the 70’s where people in an apartment building get some sort of STD parasite that makes them go murder-crazy called Shivers, and it absolutely terrifies me.  Pretty much all of David Cronenberg’s body horror movies do, because I hate the thought of being controlled by or feeding a host litany of gross internal beasties.

I’m going to get another cup of coffee.  It’s hot water, so I know it’s clean, and caffeine is good for me.  Plus it might take the cold chills away.

Tags: parasites, preventable diseases, unusual diseases, Bill Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, charities

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