Human african trypanosomiasis: The smoldering scourge of Africa

Abstract

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness is one of Africa’s classic tropical diseases. First case reports go back to the fourteenth century. Until recently the impact of HAT on health in Africa has been devastating. Many areas had long been rendered uninhabitable for people and livestock. Millions may have died in Central Africa around Lake Victoria and in the Congo basin within the last 100 years.