Kenya eliminates sleeping sickness, marking public health triumph

Kenya has been declared free of Guinea worm disease since 2018, making HAT the second Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) to be eradicated in the nation.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Kenya for what he called a "historic accomplishment," as the country joins a select group of nations to eliminate human African trypanosomiasis from its population. The milestone marks a significant step in broader efforts to eradicate neglected tropical diseases across the continent.

According to the WHO, the blood parasite Trypanosoma brucei is the cause of HAT, a vector-borne illness. The disease is spread to humans through the biting of tsetse flies that have contracted the parasites from infected humans or animals. The most vulnerable groups are those living in rural areas who work in agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry, or hunting.

Kenya attributes its success to strategies and initiatives such as stronger disease surveillance, active monitoring, and control of the parasite and the tsetse fly vector—even outside of past hotspots.

Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Aden Duale hailed the eradication of the disease as a "major public health milestone," calling it both a victory for the nation's well-being and a catalyst for economic growth. "We celebrate the eradication of a deadly disease in our country," he said in a statement, adding that the achievement followed "years of commitment, diligence, and teamwork."