‘Silent killer’ Multi-million pound award for Dundee experts to beat deadly disease

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A deadly disease that can kill victims who may never know they were infected is to be targeted by University of Dundee scientists following a multi-million funding award.

The experts aim to develop a new drug treatment for Chagas disease, which can live in a person’s body for decades before killing without warning.The terrifying disease is estimated to affect millions of people, with current treatments both limited in effectiveness and coming with significant side-effects.Dr Manu Rycker of Dundee’s School of Life Sciences, said: “Chagas diseases is particularly horrible as it lives in the body, with the victim completely unaware.“Decades after being infected, a large number of people - around 30% - will go on to develop the disease, inflicting life-threatening damage to the heart, oesophagus and colon.“It is the classic definition of a silent killer and the symptoms that a person has become infected tend to be only mild and similar to a mild cold or fever, meaning that people just tend to dismiss them.”DundeeLive brings you the latest headlines from Dundee and beyond.But did you know you all the ways you can stay informed with us?You can get our top stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily news updates.

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