Kenya Eliminates Sleeping Sickness as Public Health Threat, Becomes 10th Country to Reach Milestone

    New Delhi, August 10, 2025 : The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially validated Kenya’s elimination of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem. This achievement marks Kenya as the tenth country globally to reach this critical milestone in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

    Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr Aden Duale said, “This validation marks a major public health milestone for Kenya. The achievement will not only protect our people but also pave the way for renewed economic growth and prosperity.”

    HAT is a potentially fatal disease caused by the blood parasite Trypanosoma brucei, transmitted through bites from infected tsetse flies. Kenya is endemic to the more aggressive rhodesiense form (r-HAT), which progresses rapidly and can be fatal within weeks if untreated. Historically, rural populations involved in agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, or hunting have been at the highest risk.

    The disease has been present in Kenya since the early 20th century. However, no new indigenous (autochthonous) cases have been reported since 2009, with the last known exported cases in 2012 involving visitors infected in the Masai Mara National Reserve.

    In response to the ongoing threat, Kenya strengthened its surveillance efforts by equipping 12 health facilities across six historically endemic counties with diagnostic tools and training clinical staff. These sites now serve as sentinel surveillance points, ensuring early detection and response to any resurgence.

    Additionally, Kenya maintains vector surveillance through the Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC), working alongside national veterinary authorities to monitor tsetse fly populations and animal trypanosomiasis.

    WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus  praised Kenya’s success: “Kenya joins the growing ranks of countries freeing their populations of human African trypanosomiasis. This is another step towards making Africa free of neglected tropical diseases.”

    Director General of Health at the Ministry of Health Dr Patrick Amoth, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the success: “This milestone reflects years of dedication and cooperation between government, research institutions, development partners, and local communities.”

    WHO, alongside partners including FIND, continues to support Kenya in the implementation of a post-validation surveillance plan. This includes maintaining medicine stockpiles donated by pharmaceutical companies Bayer AG and Sanofi, ensuring preparedness for any potential future cases.

    WHO Representative to Kenya Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, commended the Ministry of Health and frontline workers: “This success was made possible by leadership, dedication, and collaboration. WHO remains committed to supporting post-elimination monitoring.”

    Globally, 57 countries have eliminated at least one NTD. Kenya now joins Benin, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Rwanda, Togo, and Uganda in eliminating HAT as a public health problem. With sustained vigilance, Kenya aims to ensure sleeping sickness remains consigned to history protecting future generations from this deadly disease.