Narrator:
Dr. Abhay Satoskar has devoted his life to an infectious disease many in the U.S. have never heard of.  

[Onscreen text:
Abhay Satoskar, MD, PhD
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center]

Dr. Satoskar:
This is something we could have prevented. 

Narrator:
Dr. Satoskar has seen leishmaniasis ravage communities around the world and even turn deadly. Today, he's overseas for the production of the first ever leishmaniasis vaccine he developed at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Satoskar:
No infectious disease can be eliminated or eradicated without a vaccine.

[Onscreen text:
LEISHMANIASIS
- SAND FLY BITES]

[Onscreen text:
LEISHMANIASIS
- SKIN ULCERS
- ORGAN FAILURE]

Narrator:
Leishmaniasis is typically transmitted through sandfly bites and can range in severity from skin ulcers to organ failure. The disease is endemic, or constantly present, in tropical regions of the world, and now it's endemic in the U.S., too — particularly southern states. 

[Onscreen visuals:
World map is shown with parts of Western Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, South America and Central America highlighted. It zooms into the United States, which becomes highlighted.]

[Onscreen text:
Bradford McGwire, MD, PhD
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center]

Dr. McGwire:
Sandflies don't know borders, right? So more and more infected sandflies are found in the — on the border states to Mexico. 

Narrator:
Every year, Dr. Bradford McGwire treats a handful of patients for leishmaniasis at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. 

[Onscreen visuals:
World map is shown with Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East and other parts of Asia highlighted.]

[Onscreen text:
- AFRICA
- ASIA
- CENTRAL AMERICA
- SOUTH AMERICA
- SERVED IN MILITARY]

Narrator:
They have usually traveled to Africa, Asia, Central or South America or served in the military. 

Dr. McGwire:
Vaccinating people in endemic areas so they could reduce the, you know, the incidence of leishmaniasis in those regions is pretty important.

Narrator:
Dr. Satoskar and his global team discovered their vaccine is 100% effective in animals, and they plan to start human trials later this year. 

Dr. Satoskar:
It worked beautifully. It worked beyond my imagination. 

Narrator:
A shot at lifelong immunity against a disease many American doctors are still learning to diagnose and treat. At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, I'm Jessi Turnure.