The risk and associated control problems of Human African Trypanosomosis (HAT) in the endemic foci of Greater Equatoria Region, South Sudan

ABSTRACT

This study aims to analyze, map, and identify the prevalence of, service provision for, and risk distribution and control for Human African Trypanosomosis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, in the endemic areas of Greater Equatoria Region (GER), including Eastern, Central, and Western Equatoria States of South Sudan. Passive and active screening data, detection data, and existing facilities and centers for sleeping sickness were used to assess the prevalence, screening coverage, and overall risk in the region for the 2016–2018 period. In addition, historical literature and surveillance information were used. The results show that 0.43% (N = 14,552) of the total at-risk population (N = 3,399,400) of GER were subjected to passive or active screening for Gambian HAT (gHAT), which showed an infection rate of 0.30%. Out of the total area of 196,211 km², 58.77% of the region (115,311 km²) was found to be endemic to HAT. The population remains at high or very high risk for the disease in Western Equatoria State due to a number of active historic gHAT foci. With relative peace currently prevailing in the region, there is need to reinforce the leadership of South Sudan’s health ministry with sufficient internal and external resources to support its activities.

KEYWORDS:

• Human African Trypanosomosis (HAT)
• Gambian HAT (gHAT)
• parasite
• tsetse fly
• South Sudan

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Nipissing University [Excellent Research Grant].

Notes on contributors

Yatta S. Lukou

Dr. Lukou is an Associate Professor of Parasites and Vectors at the University of Juba, South Sudan. He is currently a South Sudan’s Focal Point for Global Taxonomic Initiative to the United Nation Convention of Biological Diversity and a member of South Sudan Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and Onchocerciasis Elimination Committee. His current research interest is Spatial Epidemiology of Neglected Tropical Diseases including Human African Trypanosomiases (HAT), Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis and Leishmaniasis.

Dominic Odwa Atari

Dr. Atari is an Associate Professor of Health Geography at Nipissing University. Ontario, Canada. His current research interests focus on the social and geographic determinants of health and the use of geospatial techniques in the study of population health.

Kenneth L. L. Sube

Dr Sube is a Medical Doctor and an Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Ophthalmology at the School of Medicine, University of Juba, South Sudan. His current research interest is in ophthalmology, infectious and non-communicable diseases.

Joseph Lako

Dr. Lako is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the university Juba, South Sudan. His current research interests include applied biotechnology with particular focus on microbial genetics.

Erneo B. Ochi

Dr. Ochi is a full professor of Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Juba, Juba South Sudan. His current research interests include Human and Animal African Trypanosomiasis (HAT/AAT); ticks and tick-borne diseases, meat hygiene and safety.

Intisar E. Elrayah

Dr. Elrayah is a full professor of Medical Parasitology & Epidemiology at El Shaqra University, Al Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia. She was the chairperson of Eastern African network of Trypanosomiasis (EANETT); coordinator & Country representative of Eastern Africa Centre for Infectious Diseases Control (EACIDS) and Member of the International Society of the Infectious Diseases. Her current research interests include Disease diagnostics, Epidemiology, Drug Assays Assessment and sensitivity, designing Clinical Trails Studies; and Mapping of Vectors & Molecular detection of infection in vectors