The second WHO report on neglected tropical diseases builds on the growing sense of optimism generated by the 2012 publication of the WHO Roadmap. Commitments on the part of ministries of health in endemic countries global health initiatives funding agencies and philanthropists have escalated since 2010 as have donations of medicines from pharmaceutical companies and the engagement of the scientific community. This report marks a new phase and assesses opportunities and obstacles in the control elimination and eradication of several of these diseases. Unprecedented progress over the past two years ha