Guinea Eliminates Sleeping Sickness As Public Health Issue

Guinea has officially eliminated the gambiense form of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly referred to as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem. This achievement was announced to coincide with World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, observed annually on 30 January. Guinea becomes the first country to reach this milestone for the gambiense strain, joining a growing list of nations successfully tackling NTDs through sustained public health interventions.

Overview of Human African Trypanosomiasis

• Pathogen: HAT is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Trypanosoma.
• Vector: It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected tsetse flies (Glossina genus), which are found only in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Forms of Disease: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense: Found in West and Central Africa, accounting for over 95% of reported cases. It causes a chronic infection.
  • Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense: Found in Eastern and Southern Africa, causing an acute infection that develops rapidly.
• Symptoms: Early stages involve fever, headaches, and joint pain. As the parasite crosses the blood-brain barrier, it infects the central nervous system, leading to sleep cycle disruptions, progressive mental deterioration, and death if left untreated.

Elimination Strategy in Guinea

Disease Control and Vector Management

The National Programme for the Control of HAT was established in 2002 to address the resurgence of the disease in coastal mangrove regions. Initial strategies focused on mass active screenings to identify and treat asymptomatic carriers. In 2012, vector control was intensified through the use of insecticide-impregnated “mini-screens” designed to attract and kill tsetse flies, significantly reducing human-fly contact.

Community Engagement and Resilience

Local community participation ensured the sustainability of health interventions, even during major health crises. Despite the disruptions caused by the West African Ebola outbreak (2014–2016) and the COVID-19 pandemic, Guinea maintained its surveillance through door-to-door screenings and adapted clinical protocols to ensure continuous monitoring of high-risk populations.

Global Progress on Sleeping Sickness

Guinea is among eight countries globally to have eliminated the gambiense form of HAT as a public health problem, alongside Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Uganda. Rwanda recently achieved the same for the rhodesiense form. These successes align with the WHO’s 2030 NTD roadmap, which targets the interruption of transmission of both forms of the disease. Continued entomological surveillance remains essential to prevent the reintroduction of the parasite in regions where the tsetse fly vector persists.