Seven Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths (ascariasis, hookworm, and whipworm), and trachoma, are considered "tool-ready," and control programs are equipped with efficient diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up surveillance strategies to implement mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns. These tool ready or targeted NTDs are the focus of many of the global and United States Government NTD efforts
Other NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, cysticercosis, Dengue fever, echinococcosis, fascioliasis, human African trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, leprosy (Hansen's disease), rabies, and yaws, are considered "tool-deficient," which refers to the lack of one or more of the components necessary to deliver effective MDA.
Each tool-deficient NTD varies in what is needed to advance it to the tool-ready category. For instance, many of these diseases have features that prevent early detection and/or require treatment that must be administered by highly trained professionals in specialized facilities. Because of these and similar challenges, the World Health Organization suggests addressing tool-deficient diseases by first strengthening primary care systems in endemic areas and offering innovative and intensified disease management.