Retaking sleeping sickness control in Angola.
Africa is severely affected by a resurgence of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) at epidemic proportions. We report the results of the first 5 years of a HAT control programme in northern Angola run by the non-governmental organization (NGO) ANGOTRIP. In the period between 1996 and 2001, 13 426 patients were screened for HAT. The mortality rate of patients in stage II who were treated with melarsoprol fell from 7.5% to 2.9%, possibly as a result of training and the standardization of treatment protocols. A total of 191,578 people in three provinces of Angola were screened for HAT. Vector control activities were initiated using Lancien traps. Our experiences reflect the connection between war and the increasing incidence of disease, but also demonstrate that HAT control is possible by dedicated NGOs in close cooperation with national institutions even under extremely difficult circumstances.
Abel
Paulo M
PM
ANGOTRIP, Caritas de Angola, Bairro Rocha Pinto, Morro da Luz, Luanda, Angola. angotrip@netangola.com
Kiala
Godi
G
Lôa
Vanda
V
Behrend
Markus
M
Musolf
Jens
J
Fleischmann
Hanne
H
Théophile
Josénando
J
Krishna
Sanjeev
S
Stich
August
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000810:Angola / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008297:Male; D008549:Melarsoprol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014370:Tsetse Flies
D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D010419:Pentamidine; D008549:Melarsoprol; D000518:Eflornithine