Five Things to Know About Trypanosomiasis

(photo credit DavidDennisPhotos.com)

To be honest, Trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, isn't much of a global health problem. The last epidemic was in the 70s, and we've got it pretty much controlled at this point. But people keep asking me about it, and it's a good example of how a disease is controlled. So, five things:

1.       Sleeping sickness occurs only in Sub-Saharan Africa, in areas that host the Tsetse fly, which carries the disease. There are actually two slightly different forms of Trypanosomiasis, caused by different parasites.

2.       Trypanosomiasis was well controlled in the 60s, and surveillance efforts decreased. As a result, we saw a new epidemic in the 70s. You never get to stop disease surveillance. The current estimated number of cases is between 50,000 and 70,000.

3.       In 2005, major Trypanosomiasis outbreaks occurred in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. People who are most exposed to the flies, such as those who hunt and fish, are most at risk for Trypanosomiasis.

4.       The disease tends to occur in areas that are poor and lack access to medical care. Displacement is therefore a risk factor, as is war.

5.       Because it affects a small number of poor people, Trypanosomiasis is exactly the kind of disease that never gets any research into cures or treatments. MSF has been doing research into new treatments for the disease, and they are seeing good results with a new drug combination. The new regimen is both more effective and less toxic to humans than previous treatments.