In a landmark achievement, Chad has become the first country in 2024 and the 51st globally to eliminate a neglected tropical disease (NTD) — the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT).
About Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT):
It is also known as sleeping sickness.
It is caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by infected tsetse flies and endemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
It takes 2 forms, depending on the subspecies of the infecting parasite:
Trypanosoma brucei gambiense: It is found in 24 countries of west and central Africa, currently accounts for 92% of reported cases and causes a chronic illness.
A person can be infected for months or even years without major signs or symptoms. When evident symptoms emerge, often the disease is advanced with the central nervous system already affected.
Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense: It is found in 13 countries of eastern and southern Africa, accounts for 8% of reported cases and causes an acute disease.
First signs and symptoms emerge a few weeks or months after infection. The disease develops rapidly with multi-organ invasion, including the brain.
Tsetse flies inhabit sub-Saharan Africa and only certain species transmit the disease. Rural populations which depend on agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry or hunting are the most exposed.
To date, WHO has validated the elimination of the gambiense form of HAT in seven countries: Togo (2020), Benin (2021), Ivory Coast (2021), Uganda (2022), Equatorial Guinea (2022), Ghana (2023) and Chad (2024).
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