Deadly parasites and diseases

Five tiny parasites cause some of the most devastating diseases including malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness and guinea worm disease. These diseases affect 1 in every 18 people in the world.

Explore the challenges we face in fighting five of the most persistent parasites and discover the people who are fighting against them – from scientists and researchers in the laboratory to the local communities and workers on the front line. 

These resources were produced as part of the interactive exhibition, Parasites: Battle for Survival which ran at the National Museum of Scotland from 6 December 2019 to 19 April 2020.

School children exploring Parasites exhibition © Neil Hannah

Presented in partnership with the Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research at the University of Dundee, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology at the University of Glasgow and Edinburgh infectious Diseases at the University of Edinburgh.