[Leprosy] Vaccine Creator Died

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 23:16

[Leprosy] Vaccine Creator Died

Venezuelan physician and scientist Jacinto Convit, who developed a vaccine against leprosy and leishmaniasis and is also known for his research in the field of cancer treatment, died last Monday at the age of 100, reports the BBC.

Jacinto Convit. Illustration from the site las2ciudadesactivas.wordpress.com /

Venezuelan scientist and physician Jacinto Convit, who developed a vaccine against leprosy and leishmaniasis, and is also known for his research in the field of cancer treatment, died last Monday at the age of 100, reports the BBC.

After graduating from the University of Caracas, Jacinto Convit began treating leprosy patients on the outskirts of the city and in remote areas of the jungle. After doing a lot of research, the scientist combined the existing tuberculosis therapy using bacteria that live in the body of armadillos to create a new vaccine against leprosy (leprosy).

This disease is caused by the microorganism Mycobacterium leprae, which commonly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes, upper respiratory tract, and limbs. Currently, leprosy is found mainly in the tropics and subtropics; in areas with colder climates, it is rare. The disease is common in Africa and Asia (especially India), Central and South America, Spain, Portugal, Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Hawaii. Leprosy does not belong to mass diseases, however, according to the WHO, about 11 million people worldwide suffer from it.

Konvit also developed a vaccine against leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which are transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. During his life, the researcher received many awards, including the French Legion of Honor, and in 1988 he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine for the development of a vaccine against leprosy. In the last years of his life, Konvit was engaged in research in the treatment of various types of cancer.

Professor Barry Bloom, who has worked with him for 15 years, commented: “Dr. Conwit was a doctor in the best sense of the word - he knew every patient by name. He was fascinated by the problem of treating two serious diseases - leprosy and leishmaniasis, and devoted his life to finding ways to improve people's health.