Trypanosomiasis, African
Human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is only endemic in South Sudan within the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Foci of T.b. gambiense occur in the Equatoria region, a belt bordering the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. In South Sudan, Western Equatoria is the most affected state, followed by Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria states. Historically, cases of T.b. rhodesiense were anecdotally reported in Eastern Equatoria (Torit County) and Jonglei (Akobo County), but there is no recent evidence of cases being reported there.
Nine counties are endemic for the disease, namely Tambura, Ezo, Yambio, Maridi, Mundri, Juba, Yei, Kajo Keji and Magwi. The number of people at risk of human African trypanosomiasis is estimated at 1.8 million.
Large epidemics of human African trypanosomiasis have periodically occurred in South Sudan since the early 20th century. When outbreaks occur, large-scale control reduces the number of cases but when the programme scales down disease resurgence occurs. After the latest epidemic registered in the mid-1990s control programmes were re-initiated by a number of international nongovernmental organizations in several counties.
Information resources
Recent publications
Working to overcome the global impact of neglected tropical diseases [pdf 3kb]
Policy documents
Main challenges in the control of zoonotic diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region [pdf 21kb]
Elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the Eastern Mediterranean Region [pdf 14kb]
Links
Related topics
Related programmes
Control and prevention of blindness and deafness
Operational research in tropical and other diseases
Collaborating centres
WHO Collaborating Centre on Leishmaniasis Control, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic
WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Leishmaniasis, Tunis, Tunisia