African-borne infectious diseases
 
Animal health Malaria
  Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium.  It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Each year, it causes disease in approximately 515 million people and kills between one and three million people, the majority of whom are young children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Four types of the plasmodium parasite can infect humans; the most serious forms of the disease are caused by Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, but other related species (Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae) can also affect humans.

Malaria parasites are transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. The parasites multiply within red blood cells, causing symptoms that include symptoms of anemia (light headedness, shortness of breath, tachycardia etc.), as well as other general symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, flu-like illness, and in severe cases, coma and death. Malaria transmission can be reduced by preventing mosquito bites with mosquito nets and insect repellents, or by mosquito control measures such as spraying insecticides inside houses and draining standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs.

Preventative drugs must be taken continuously to reduce the risk of infection. These prophylactic drug treatments are often too expensive for most people living in endemic areas. Most adults from endemic areas have a degree of long-term recurrent infection and also of partial resistance; the resistance reduces with time and such adults may become susceptible to severe malaria if they have spent a significant amount of time in non-endemic areas. Malaria infections are treated through the use of antimalarial drugs, such as quinine or artemisinin derivatives, although drug resistance is increasingly common.

The Use of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests  - World Health Organisation
Animal health HIV 1 &2
  Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus is transmitted through direct contact with HIV containing blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk.

HIV primarily infects helper T cells (specifically CD4+ T cells), macrophages and dendritic cells, leading to low levels of CD4+ T cells or immunity, making the body more susceptible to opportunistic infections.

Though HIV originated in sub-Saharan Africa, by now it is a pandemic, with an estimated 34 million people living with the disease worldwide. Inhabited by just over 12% of the world's population, Africa is estimated to have more than 60% of the AIDS-infected population, retarding economic growth and destroying human capital.

The disease is even more devastating in sub-Saharan Africa due to the interaction between HIV and tuberculosis, the latter being the world's greatest infectious killer of women of reproductive age and the leading cause of death among people with HIV/AIDS.

Though antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in many African countries.
Animal health Syphillis
  Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted disease caused by the Treponema pallidum spirochete. Infection occurs through sexual contact, or via transmission from mother to child in utero. Symptoms are often confused with other diseases. Syphilis can be easily treated with antibiotics including an intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin. If not treated, syphilis can cause serious effects such as damage to the heart, aorta, brain, eyes, and bones. In some cases these effects can be fatal.
Animal health Hepatitis B
  The Hepatitis B virus is  DNA virus which infects the liver and causes an inflammation called viral hepatitis. It has caused epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa. The proportion of the world's population currently infected with the virus is estimated at 3 to 6%, but up to a third have been exposed. Symptoms of the acute illness caused by the virus include liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice, and rarely, death. Chronic hepatitis B may eventually cause liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, a fatal disease with very poor response to current chemotherapy.
   
  Women's health
Animal health Bacterial vaginosis
  Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the condition in women where the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria. It is sometimes accompanied by discharge, odor, pain, itching, or burning. BV is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age and is common in pregnant women. Discharge, if present, is usually white or gray; however, most women with BV report no symptoms. Having BV can increase a woman's susceptibility to HIV infection if she is exposed to the HIV virus. Having BV increases the chances that an HIV-infected woman can pass HIV to her sex partner. It may lead to an increase in the development of an infection following surgical procedures such as a hysterectomy or an abortion. Having a BV infection while pregnant may trigger a preterm delivery.
Animal health Trichomoniasis
  Trichomoniasis is the most common in sexually active women. It affects both women and men, although symptoms are more common in women. It is caused by the single-celled protozoan parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. The parasite is transmitted through penis-to-vagina intercourse or vulva-to-vulva  contact with an infected partner. Men may temporarily have an irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or slight burning after urination or ejaculation. Symptoms of infection for females include a frothy, yellow-green vaginal discharge with a strong odor. The infection also may cause discomfort during intercourse and urination, as well as irritation and itching of the female genital area. The genital inflammation caused by trichomoniasis can increase a woman’s susceptibility to HIV infection if she is exposed to the virus. Having trichomoniasis may increase the chance that an HIV-infected woman passes HIV to her sex partner(s). Pregnant women with trichomoniasis may have babies who are born early or with low birth weight.
Animal health Genital / Volvovaginal Candidiasis
  Candidiasis, also known as a "yeast infection" or VVC, is a common fungal infection that occurs when there is overgrowth of the fungus called Candida. Candida is always present in the body in small amounts. However, when an imbalance occurs, such as when the normal acidity of the vagina changes or when hormonal balance changes, Candida can multiply. When that happens, symptoms of candidiasis appear. Women with VVC usually experience genital itching or burning, with or without a vaginal discharge. Males with genital candidiasis may experience an itchy rash on the penis.

Over-the-counter treatments for VVC are available. As a result, more women are diagnosing themselves with VVC and using one of a family of drugs called "azoles" for therapy. However, misdiagnosis is common, and studies have shown that as many as two-thirds of all OTC drugs sold to treat VVC were used by women without the disease. Using these drugs when they are not needed may lead to a resistant infection. Resistant infections are very difficult to treat with the currently available medications for VVC.