Sleeping sickness eliminated as public health problem in Guinea

Sleeping sickness, a parasitic disease which is generally fatal without treatment, has been eliminated as a public health problem in Guinea, the French Research Institute for Development (IRD) said Thursday.

The disease, also known as Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), is spread by infected tsetse flies and is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Trypanosoma parasite enters the central nervous system, causing symptoms including behaviour changes, confusion, poor coordination and sleep cycle disturbance. Guinea, which still records cases of the disease, has long been the most affected country in West Africa.