Trypanosomiasis

Antelopes, hyenas, lions, sheep and cattle can serve as a reservoir for one of the two species causing Human African Trypanosomiasis (T. b. rhodiense). For the other specie (T. b. gambiense) humans form the reservoir. At his moment no important animal reservoir is known for this specie. Tsetse flies serve as a vector to transmit the disease between infected humans and animals. In animals many other Trypanosoma species are known to cause Trypanosomiasis or Nagana next to T. b. rhodiense.

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) or Nagana occur in 37 sub-Saharan countries covering more than 9 million km², an area which corresponds approximately to one-third of the Africa's total land area. The infection threatens an estimated 60 million people.

The main approaches to controlling the African trypanosomiases are to reduce the reservoirs of infection and the presence of the vectors.

The Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis

The Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT) is a joint programme between WHO, FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization), IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and AU/IBAR (Africa Union - International Bureau for Animal Resources) that aims to provide direction and focus to the control of trypanosomiasis within the broader context of food security, human health, rural development and sustainable agriculture. It has been founded in 1995. PAAT treats the tsetse/trypanosomiasis problem as an integral part of development and poverty alleviation, assuring positive and lasting results in trypanosomiasis-affected areas.

The Pan African Trypanosomiasis and Tsetse Eradication Campaign

The Pan African Trypanosomiasis and Tsetse Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) was established during the OAU (Organisation of African Unity) summit of Heads of State and Government in July 2000 and launched in Ouagadougou in 2001. The main role of PATTEC is to promote at the highest political level control of trypanosomiasis, and the campaign represents a strong, pan-African commitment to the fight against the disease. At the technical level, PATTEC is mainly involved in preparing a large vector-control campaign with the aim of creating tsetse-free areas. Within the framework of the programme, WHO is responsible for research on and surveillance and control of human trypanosomiasis.