Sleeping sickness, or human African trypanosomiasis, is a fatal and much neglected disease that plagues parts of Africa. It is transmitted by the tsetse fly, which harbors the t. gambiense parasite. Tsetse flies are found in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, putting 60 million people at risk. According to World Health Organization (WHO) figures, trypanosomiasis affects 50,000 to 70,000 people each year. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the current number of cases to be between 50,000 and 70,000.
Nearly eliminated in the 1960s, sleeping sickness has made a comeback of epidemic proportions due to war, population movements, and the collapse of health systems over the past two decades.
The parasite causing sleeping sickness is transmitted to humans through the bite of the infected tsetse flies breeding in warm and humid areas. Inhabiting the vast savannah across sub-Saharan Africa, tsetse flies come into contact with man, cattle and wild animals, all acting as reservoirs for the parasites.
The first stage of sleeping sickness presents with non-specific symptoms such as fever and weakness. This stage is difficult to diagnose but relatively easy to treat. If no treatment is given, the parasite will invade the infected person's central nervous system and the second stage sets in. This stage may be characterized by confusion, violent behavior or convulsions. Named after one of its most striking symptoms, patients with sleeping sickness experience an inability to sleep during the night but are overcome by sleep during the day. If left untreated, the disease inevitably leads to coma and death.
It is important that travellers continue to use personal protection methods to prevent other infections transmitted by biting insects e.g. malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever. The only way to protect oneself from insect bites is by using repellents containing 40-50% DEET, during the day and night, and use clothing spray which contains an insecticide such as Permethrin and will last up to 6 months. Tsetse flies are attracted to blue and yellow, so wearing these colours is best avoided.
The University of Dundee in Scotland, has received more than £10 million funding from the Wellcome Trust and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to research some of the world's neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness. These diseases kill 150,000 people every year in developing countries.
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If you would like more advice on measures to avoid this or other tropical diseases, please contact The Travel Clinic Ltd, Cambridge or Ipswich on 01223 367362.
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