CONAKRY, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Guinea has eliminated the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
"This form of human African trypanosomiasis, the only type transmitted in Guinea, is the first neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in the country," the WHO said in a statement.
"The news marks an important achievement in this public health field on the eve of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day," which is marked on Jan. 30 annually, said the statement dated Wednesday.
Guinean Minister of Health and Public Hygiene Oumar Diouhe Bah confirmed certification of the elimination at an international meeting of health experts Thursday.
He said Guinea has reached the WHO threshold -- less than one case per 10,000 inhabitants in all endemic areas, adding that the ultimate goal is to achieve the complete elimination of the disease by 2030.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Guinea's achievement "is both a testament to the global progress against neglected tropical diseases and a beacon of hope for nations still battling human African trypanosomiasis."
Human African trypanosomiasis is caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by infected tsetse flies, according to the WHO. Symptoms include fever, headaches, joint pain and, in advanced stages, neurological symptoms like confusion, disrupted sleep patterns and behavioral changes. ■
