\n <\/p>
Sleeping sickness, or Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), is a life-threatening disease that has long plagued sub-Saharan Africa. Caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly, it has affected hundreds of thousands of people, particularly in rural and forested regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Sleeping Sickness \u2014also known as Human African Trypanosomiasis\u2014\u202fis a life-threatening disease caused by Trypanosoma parasites. There are two types of the disease: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (responsible for most cases in West and Central Africa, with a slow progression) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (found in East and Southern Africa, with a faster progression and more acute symptoms).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both forms are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tsetse fly, which typically breeds in rural, riverine or wooded environments. The disease is targeted for elimination as a public health problem, with the WHO and partners leading integrated campaigns that combine surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and vector control.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleeping sickness occurs in two stages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diagnosis requires microscopic examination of blood or lymph samples<\/strong>. In the late stage, a lumbar puncture is performed to detect the parasite in spinal fluid. Early and accurate diagnosis is critical to effective treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatment depends on the stage and type of the disease. For Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, a new oral drug called fexinidazole is now available, simplifying treatment.<\/strong> For the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense type, treatment is more complex and often requires hospitalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preventing infection relies on controlling the tsetse fly population through traps, insecticide-treated screens and clearing of fly habitats<\/strong>. Personal protection \u2014such as wearing long clothing and using repellents\u2014 is also a great help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to decades of international cooperation, the number of cases has dropped dramatically from over 30.000 cases in 1999<\/strong> to fewer than 1.000 in recent years. Yet, the disease remains a concern in some remote or unstable regions, where surveillance is difficult and access to health care is limited. Sleeping Sickness is both preventable and treatable and elimination is within reach, but it requires sustained vigilance and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global initiatives led by the WHO, national health ministries and partners like DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative) have made remarkable progress. Continued success depends on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleeping Sickness is no longer the widespread killer it once was\u2026 but the final push toward elimination requires commitment, innovation and collaboration. With continued action, a future free from sleeping sickness in Africa is within reach. Help us helping rural and isolated communities; they remain at risk. Don\u2019t forget the goal is closer than ever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sleeping Sickness: what it is and how it can be defeated Sleeping Sickness \u2014also known as Human African Trypanosomiasis\u2014\u202fis a life-threatening disease caused by Trypanosoma parasites. There are two types of the disease: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (responsible for most cases in West and Central Africa, with a slow progression) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (found in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17924,"featured_media":82871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[291],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-right-to-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSymptoms, transmission and diagnosis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Treatment, prevention and control efforts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Impact on African communities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ongoing solutions, research and future outlook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n