Kenya Eliminates Sleeping Sickness
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently certified Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem. Kenya is the 10th African country to achieve this milestone. This success marks another step towards eradicating neglected tropical diseases across Africa. Kenya had earlier eliminated Guinea worm disease in 2018. Sleeping sickness is caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by tsetse flies. It affects mainly rural populations engaged in farming, fishing, and animal husbandry.
Human African Trypanosomiasis
- Human African trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei species.
- It is transmitted by the bite of infected tsetse flies found in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The disease has two forms – the chronic gambiense form prevalent in West and Central Africa, and the acute rhodesiense form found in East and Southern Africa.
- Symptoms start with fever and joint pain and progress to neurological issues such as confusion and disrupted sleep, giving the disease its name.
Transmission and Risk Factors
Tsetse flies acquire the parasite from infected humans or animals and transmit it to others. The disease is focal, affecting specific villages or regions. Rural communities with limited healthcare access and those affected by poverty and displacement are most vulnerable. Transmission can also occur from mother to child, through accidental exposure in laboratories, and rarely by sexual contact. Animals act as reservoirs, especially for the rhodesiense form.
Historical Epidemics and Control Efforts
Sleeping sickness caused several epidemics in the 20th century, especially in Uganda, the Congo Basin, and Angola. Control measures in the 1920s and 1960s reduced cases drastically. However, relaxed surveillance led to a resurgence by the 1990s. At its peak, nearly 40,000 cases were reported annually with many more undetected. WHO and partner organisations intensified control efforts from the late 1990s, leading to a dramatic decline in cases to less than 1,000 annually by 2018.
Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges
Diagnosis involves screening, microscopic parasite detection, and staging via cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Early detection is critical to prevent progression to the neurological stage, which requires complex treatment. Active screening in affected populations is resource-intensive and difficult in remote areas. Limited healthcare infrastructure often delays diagnosis and treatment, contributing to disease persistence.
Current Status and Future Prospects
The disease burden has declined , with most cases now reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Several countries have not reported cases for over a decade. Kenya’s elimination status reflects sustained surveillance and effective public health interventions. Continued efforts aim at interrupting transmission entirely by 2030, aligning with WHO’s Neglected Tropical Diseases roadmap.
| Related | |
|---|---|
