CDC – African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
Key facts
African trypanosomiasis is caused by parasites of the genus Trypanosoma and transmitted by infected tsetse flies and is endemic in 36 sub-Saharan African countries where there are tsetse flies that transmit the disease. Without treatment, the disease is considered fatal.
The people most exposed to the tsetse fly and to the disease live in rural areas and depend on agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry, or hunting.
Human African trypanosomiasis takes 2 forms, depending on the subspecies of the parasite involved: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense accounts for more than 95% of reported cases.
Sustained control efforts have reduced the number of new cases. In 2009 the number reported dropped below 10 000 for the first time in 50 years, and in 2019 there were with 992 and 663 cases reported in 2019 and 2020 cases recorded respectively.
Diagnosis and treatment of the disease are complex and require specifically skilled staff.
African Trypanosomiasis, otherwise called “dozing ailment”, is brought about by infinitesimal parasites of the species Trypanosoma brucei. It is sent by the tsetse fly (Glossina species), which is tracked down just in sub-Saharan Africa. Two morphologically vague subspecies of the parasite cause particular sickness designs in people: T. b. gambiense causes a gradually advancing African trypanosomiasis in western and focal Africa and T. b. rhodesiense causes more intense African trypanosomiasis in eastern and southern Africa. Control endeavors have diminished the number of yearly cases and without precedent for 50 years, the number of detailed cases fell under 10,000 in 2009. In 2017-2018, less than 2000 cases were accounted for by WHO. The number of cases proceed to drop and in 2020, less than 700 joined cases were accounted for by WHO; more than 85% were brought about by T. b. gambiense and around 15% were brought about by T. b. rhodesiense