according to the college's dr peter hotat. one of the leading experts. neglected because there is so little research being done on them and no fda approved medicines or vaccines. >>> i thought when we started finding these diseases, wow, people are going to care about this issue. it was just the opposite. nobody cared. >> reporter: why? because most victims are poor. not exactly the ideal demographic for big fharma. he showed us why some impoverished are the breeding ground. >>> in the piles of discarded tyres >> reporter: stray dogs, run down homes, broken window, heaven for disease-carrying bugs >>> you will see these big drain ditches that fill up with water. these provide perfect breeding grounds >> reporter: while they're considered diseases of poverty, they're also perceived as an immigrant problem. that needs to change says the doctor. >>> we have got to get over this mentality that these are not diseases that are coming across our southern border. they're for the most diseases having transmission here in the united states. >> reporter: case in po