Sleeping sickness in Zambia and Zimbabwe
19 Dec 2024
On 18 December 2024, the United States Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) issued a travel alert for safari areas in Zambia and Zimbabwe for East African sleeping sickness after cases were identified in returning travellers.
The affected areas are on either side of the Zambezi River, downstream of Lake Kariba: Churundu (Zambia) and Mana Pools National Park, Hurungwe and Charara Safari Areas (Zimbabwe)
East African sleeping sickness is caused by Trypanosoma brucei which is transmitted through the bite of an infected tsetse fly.
The bite of a tsetse fly is painful. The area around an infected bite is usually tender and swollen, with an ulcer often occurring 5 – 15 days after the bite. Fever and headache will occur, followed by coma and death if the infection is untreated.
Advice for travellers
Sleeping sickness is rare in travellers, but the of the disease requires that precautions are taken.
Both of the following methods of bite avoidance should be employed to reduce the number of potential bites:
- You should wear long, thicker clothing in areas where tsetse flies are found, avoiding darker colours, particularly blue, as these attract the flies. Tsetse flies can bite through thin clothing.
- Importantly, you should wear clothing impregnated with permethrin insecticide
- Insect repellents should be applied to exposed skin, preferably 50% DEET
- Avoid undergrowth where tsetse flies may be present
No vaccine is available against sleeping sickness. Specialist treatment is required if infection is suspected.
If you become unwell during or after travel to an area where tsetse flies may be present, seek immediate medical attention.
For further information, see the fitfortravel insect bite avoidance pages.