How is East African trypanosomiasis spread?
An individual will get East African trypanosomiasis if they are bitten by a tsetse fly infected with the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense parasite. The tsetse fly is common only to Africa. Is East African trypanosomiasis a serious illness? Yes. If a person fails to receive medical treatment for East African trypanosomiasis, death will occur within several weeks to months. Where can you become infected with East African trypanosomiasis? East African trypanosomiasis is found in parts of Eastern and Central Africa, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Areas where infection is spread are largely determined by the location of the infected tsetse fly and wild animal population. What are the symptoms of East African trypanosomiasis? A bite by the tsetse fly is often painful and can develop into a red sore, also called a chancre (SHAN-ker). Fever, severe headaches, irritability, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and aching muscles and joints are
