Programme Against African Trypanosomosis (PAAT)

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.