The Lancet Infectious Diseases: Facing noma
“…The flesh-eating disease leaves survivors with gaping holes in their cheeks, sometimes on both sides of what remains of their face. Jaws are immobilized and the ravaged mouth drips saliva. … The epicenter of the disease is the strip of countries south of the Sahara, stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia. WHO reckons there are around 140,000 new cases every year, although this is likely to be an underestimate. The disease affects the very poorest and most remote communities, and it is usually children younger than six years who are affected…” (Burki, November 2016).