Trypanosomiasis control, Democratic Republic of Congo, 1993-2003.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) reached unprecedented levels in the 1990s. To assess recent trends and evaluate control efforts, we analyzed epidemiologic and financial data collected by all agencies involved in HAT control in DRC from 1993 to 2003. Funds allocated to control populations, as well as to the population screened, doubled from 1993 to 1997 and from 1998 to 2003. The number of cases detected decreased from 26,000 new cases per year in 1998 to 11,000 in 2003. Our analysis shows that HAT control in DRC is almost completely dependent on international aid and that sudden withdrawal of such aid in 1990 had a long-lasting effect. Since 1998, control efforts intensified because of renewed donor interest, including a public-private partnership, and this effort led to a major reduction in HAT incidence. To avoid reemergence of this disease, such efforts should be sustained.
Lutumba
Pascal
P
Programme National de Lutte contre la Trypanosomiase Humaine Africaine, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Robays
Jo
J
Miaka mia Bilenge
Constantin
C
Mesu
Victor Kande Betu Ku
VK
Molisho
Didier
D
Declercq
Johan
J
Van der Veken
Wim
W
Meheus
Filip
F
Jannin
Jean
J
Boelaert
Marleen
M
D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D014344:Trypanocidal Agents