Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
Control of African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)
Human African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a vector–borne parasitic disease. The parasites are
transmitted to humans by Tsetse fly (Glossina Genus) bites. Over time, the parasite migrates to the central nervous system,
resulting in psychiatric disorders, seizures, coma and ultimately death.
Sleeping sickness threatens millions of people in sub–Saharan Africa. However, only a small fraction of them are under
surveillance with regular examination, have access to a health center that can provide diagnostic facilities, or are protected by
vector control interventions.
EMD faculty are addressing African sleeping sickness from several angles:
- Understanding the molecular aspects of Tsetse immunity during parasite transmission
- Applying genetic tools to the dissection of the trypanosome life cycle
- Integrating epidemiology and evolutionary ecology or economics to generate predictions
- Applying results from the above studies to the development of strategies of control in a variety of settings such as
Uganda, Kenya, Israel and Brazil
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