The disease

Tsetse-transmitted Trypanosomosis is an infectious disease unique to Africa and caused by various species of blood parasites. The disease affects both people [Human African Trypanosomosis (HAT) or sleeping sickness] and animals [Animal African Trypanosomosis (AAT) or Nagana] and occurs in 37 sub-Saharan countries covering more than 9 million km2, an area which corresponds approximately to one-third of the Africa's total land area. The infection threatens an estimated 60 million people and about 50 million head of cattle.

Every year, AAT causes about 3 million deaths in cattle while approximately 35 million doses of trypanocidal drugs are administered. Nagana has a severe impact on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. The economic losses in cattle production alone are in the range of US$ 1.0 - 1.2 billion. A ponderated evaluation extrapolated for the total tsetse-infested lands values total losses, in terms of agricultural Gross Domestic Product, at US$ 4.75 billion per year.

The Secretariat

PAAT was officially established in November 1997 by the 29th Session of the FAO Conference (Resolution 5/97). The PAAT secretariat includes representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union-Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

The secretariat coordinates the implementation of programme activities and the interactions with partners and stakeholders. The secretariat's focal point is based at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.