Epidemiology and control of African trypanosomiasis : report of a WHO expert committee, meeting held in Geneva from 16 to 23 October 1985

1. Introduction -- 2. African trypanosomiases in man -- 3. The Parasites -- 4. The vectors -- 5. Epidemiology -- 6. Geographical distribution and prevalence -- 7. Public health aspects -- 8. Financial and economic considerations -- Principles of control -- 10. Control methods -- 11. Development and implementation of control programmes -- 12. training and research -- 13. Recommendations -- Acknowledgements -- Annexes.

Presents the findings and recommendations of an expert committee convened to evaluate current control methods for African human trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, a disease which is endemic in 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The report covers all aspects of the disease, including new information on clinical symptoms and pathogenesis. An updated review of the geographical distribution and public health aspects of sleeping sickness is presented, supported by maps and tables illustrating the foci of sleeping sickness and the distribution of vectors. Methods for parasite detection by isolation and preservation are described in the section on parasitology. The report also comprehensively reviews the epidemiology, vector biology and animal reservoir hosts. Th most extensive sections are concerned with the development of control programmes. One section deals with the financial and economic considerations, including presentation of a model for the financial calculation of the cost of national control programmes. Guidelines are provided for selecting the appropriate control tools from those currently available, taking into account the epidemiological situation and local resources.