Guinea eliminates the human African Tripanosomiasis as a public health problem

World Health Organization (WHO) Congratulations to Guinea on the removal of the form of gambiensea human African Tripanosomiaase as a public health problem. This form of human African Tripanosomiaase, the only species transmitted in Guinea, is the first neglected tropical disease that is eliminated in the country. News indicate an important achievement in this area of ​​public health ahead of the world of neglected days of tropical diseases, marked on January 30th.

“Today's announcement testifies to the global progress against neglected tropical diseases and lighthous hopes of nation, which is still fighting the human African Tripanosomiaase,” said Dr. Tedros Adhan Ghebreyesus, who is the CEO.

Human African tripanosomiasis (hat) or sleep disease is a vector parasite disease caused by infected flies. Symptoms include fever, headache, joint pain and, in advanced stages, neurological symptoms such as confusion, disturbed sleep patterns and behavioral changes.

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In the 1990s, the hat was held along the Guinea coast due to increased human activities in the mangros, guided by Conacrik's economic and population growth. In response to the critical threat represented by the HAT, the Guinea Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene established a national program for control of HAT 2002, with the support of the WHO -AI Institute de Recherhe pour ledlopment (IRD) and later from partners of such partner as an initiative for neglected diseases and the Pasteur de Guinée Institute. The program began with mass medical examinations for effectively diagnosing and treatment of cases, marking a key step in the control of the disease.

In 2012, the program introduced vector control interventions with the aim of interrupting contact between people and flies. Initially, it was carried out in the Boff-East area, this strategy spread throughout the country until 2016, with almost 15,000 impregnated mini-screens (with insecticides to attract and kill the Muha TSETSE) annually.

However, Guinea faced significant challenges in her efforts to remove the hat while erupting Ebola and Coid-19. From 2013 to 2015, the Ebola epidemic caused the suspension of medical activities, which led to a re -rise in cases of hat. In 2020, the Coid-19 pandemic was a further disorder, but a program adapted to implementing a screening of a door to door to the door to maintain control efforts.

Collaboration with local communities has played a critical role during these years, ensuring that interventions are culturally acceptable and widely supported. Progress in diagnostic techniques, treatment for treatment and consistent financial and technical support from WHO other partners increased the impact of the program. As a result, Guinea successfully reduced the number of cases of hat under the threshold of WHO from 1 case per 10,000 inhabitants in all endemic areas, reaching a great turning point in its struggle against this neglected tropical disease.

“The elimination of sleep disease is the result of years of efforts of the Guinea Government, its partners and the community in the overall context of national policy for the fight against all neglected tropical diseases,” said Dr. Oumar Diohé Bah, Minister of Health of Guinea and Public Hygiene.

“The elimination of human African Tripanosomiaase Guinea is a significant public health achievement. Vulnerable families and communities can now live without the threat that this potentially fatal disease is, “said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director of Africa.” Congratulations to the Government, healthcare workers, partners and communities on a key turning point. ” They eliminate the human African Tripanosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases in Africa. “

The Guinea confirmed seven other countries that were to remove the gambiense forms of human African Tripanosomiaze: Togo (2020), Benin (2021), Côte D'Avoire (2021), Uganda (2022), Equatorial Guinea (2022), Gana (2023. ) and Chad (2024). The Rhodesiense form of the disease was eliminated as a public health problem in one country, Rwanda, as confirmed by WHO 2022.

Note to the editor

Human African tripanosomiasis, also known as sleep disease, is a parasitic disease that is transmitted by vectors caused by infection with protozic parasites belonging to the genus Trypanosoma. These parasites are forwarded to people through a bite of infected flies, which receive infection from humans or animals that carry pathogenic parasites. There are two forms of illness: one caused by Trypanosoma Brucei Gambiense, found in 24 Western and Central Africa countries and which make up more than 92% of cases; And another caused by Trypanosoma Brucei Rhodesiense, which is located in 13 countries in East and South Africa, which has been calculated by the remaining cases.

The main approaches to control the sleep disease include a decrease in infection reservoirs and a reduction in the presence of flies of TSETSE. An overview of people who are at risk help identify patients earlier in the development of the disease. If the diagnosis is made early, it is possible to avoid complicated and risky treatment procedures during advanced stages and improve the prognosis of cure.