MSF WARNS OF SLEEPING SICKNESS IN EPEDIMIC IN CONGO
Feb 23rd, 2010 by admin
A sleeping sickness outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has hit more than 10,000 people in the north-eastern province of Haut-Uele and could develop into an epidemic, a medical aid group has warned. Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said yesterday that the situation is “critical” in Haut-Uele province, where in some areas up to 40 per cent of the population are infected. Sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease spread by tsetse flies. It causes confusion, poor coordination, disturbance of the sleeping cycle and, if left without treatment, death. The disease is only found in sub-Saharan Africa, where the World Health Organisation estimates it affects up to 70,000 people each year.
