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AFRICAN TRYPANOSOMIASIS
African Trypanosomiasis (African Sleeping Sickness) has the potential to infect around sixty million people in thirty-six sub-Saharan African countries. Major epidemics have been reported in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. The unicellular parasite is transmitted by the tse-tse fly. Current World Health Organization (WHO) estimates show that 300,000 to 500,000 people are infected and most will die within two years. These trypanosomids display antigenic variation and thus they easily develop resistance to drugs. In any case, the current drug treatments are toxic to humans. Further understanding of these parasites and drug development is needed to remedy this disease.
General Information: Medline, World Health Organization |
