National Atlases of tsetse and AAT
FAO provides methodological guidance, training, technical assistance and funding to develop national-level information systems, or atlases, on the occurrence of animal trypanosomosis and its insect vectors, the tsetse flies. These systems enable endemic countries in Africa to reduce disease burden by better planning, implementation and monitoring of control activities.
Developing national atlases of tse tse flies and animal trypanosomosis: progress status
Developing a national atlas to support the progressive control of tsetse-transmitted animal trypanosomosis in Zambia
10/11/2025
Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are the sole cyclical vectors of African trypanosomosis, a parasitic disease affecting both animals and humans. The national atlas of African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) and its tsetse vectors in Zambia is an initiative by the Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Control Unit (TTCU) within the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock that aims to improve AAT surveillance and its progressive control by enhancing disease intelligence and data management.
The national atlas of tsetse flies and African animal trypanosomosis in Ethiopia
28/12/2022
With the largest cattle population in Africa and vast swathes of fertile lands infested by tsetse flies, trypanosomosis is a major challenge for Ethiopian farmers. Managing the problem strategically and rationally requires comprehensive and detailed information on disease and vector distribution at the national level.
An atlas to support the progressive control of tsetse-transmitted animal trypanosomosis in Burkina Faso
04/03/2022
African animal trypanosomosis (AAT), transmitted by tsetse flies, is arguably the main disease constraint to integrated crop-livestock agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, and African heads of state and governments adopted a resolution to rid the continent of this scourge. In order to sustainably reduce or eliminate the burden of AAT, a progressive and evidence-based approach is needed, which must hinge on harmonized, spatially explicit information on the occurrence of AAT and its vectors.
An atlas of tsetse and animal African trypanosomiasis in Zimbabwe
14/01/2021
In the 1980s and 1990s, great strides were taken towards the elimination of tsetse and animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) in Zimbabwe. However, advances in recent years have been limited. Previously freed areas have been at risk of reinvasion, and the disease in tsetse-infested areas remains a constraint to food security. As part of ongoing control activities, monitoring of tsetse and AAT is performed regularly in the main areas at risk. However, a centralized digital archive is missing.
Developing a national atlas to supportthe progressive control of tsetse-transmittedanimal trypanosomosis in Kenya
01/01/2020
African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is a major livestock disease in Kenya. Even though, over the yearsvarious organizations have collected a vast amount of field data on tsetse and AAT in different parts of the country,recent national-level maps are lacking. To address this gap, a national atlas of tsetse and AAT distribution is beingdeveloped by the Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Council (KENTTEC) and partners.
A national atlas of tsetse and African animal trypanosomosis in Mali
09/10/2019
Tsetse-transmitted trypanosomosis is a deadly, neglected tropical disease and a major challenge for mixed crop-livestock agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by several species of the genus Trypanosoma. Information on the occurrence of tsetse flies and African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is available for different areas of Mali.
An atlas of tsetse and bovine trypanosomosis in Sudan
07/04/2016
After a long period of neglect, initiatives are being implemented in Sudan to control tsetse and trypanosomosis. Their planning, execution and monitoring require reliable information on the geographic distribution of the disease and its vectors. However, geo-referenced and harmonized data at the national level are lacking, despite the fact that a number of epidemiological studies were conducted over the years. The Atlas of tsetse and bovine trypanosomosis in Sudan tries to fill this gap.
See also
Continental atlas
The continental atlas of tsetse flies and animal trypanosomosis in Africa is based on data extracted and systematically mapped from scientific papers published between 1990 and 2020. To date, only results for the tsetse distribution component have been published, while the results of the animal trypanosomosis and tsetse infection components will be the subject of future publications. Future updates of the atlas are envisaged.
Sleeping sickness
The Atlas of human African trypanosomosis (HAT, or sleeping sickness) is an initiative of WHO, jointly implemented with FAO in the framework of PAAT.
In the Atlas of HAT all cases reported from endemic and non-endemic countries from the year 2000 onwards are mapped at the village level and are included in a geo-spatial database. Results of active screening activities are also included.