Genetics of Infection in Sub-Saharan Africa

While non-communicable diseases have overtaken infectious diseases as the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, the burden of infectious diseases remains disproportionately high in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) compared to other regions. Despite improvements in the prevention and control of certain infectious diseases, driven in particular by the sixth Millennium Development Goal – to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases – the burden of infectious diseases remains high. In 2017 it was estimated that 1.18 million people died from tuberculosis (TB) and 619,800 from malaria (GBD 2017 Mortality and Causes of Death Collaborators, 2018). HIV/AIDS remains a major cause of premature death in SSA (954,500 deaths in 2017), despite the availability of effective anti-retroviral treatment. Despite gains in life expectancy in SSA due to reduction in diarrheal and lower respiratory tract infections in children, 808,900 died from lower respiratory tract infections, and 553,800 from diarrheal diseases, and 153,100 from meningitis in 2017.