Neglected Tropical Disease

Current Context : Recently, 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 also known as sleeping sickness.
• It is caused by protozoan parasites that 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.
• 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.