Elimination of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem in Republic of Guinea: Paving the way for zero transmission
Abstract
The Republic of Guinea has faced an important challenge with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), which was endemic over the last century. After initial control in the 1960s-1970s, HAT resurged in the 1990s along the Guinean coast, driven by economic and demographic pressures on the mangrove ecosystem. In response, the Guinean government established a national control program in 2002, focusing on medical mass screenings. In 2012, vector control using tiny targets was introduced in the East Boffa focus to reduce fly density and human-vector contact. However, the Ebola epidemic from 2013 to 2016 disrupted these efforts, leading to a reliance on passive screening. Resuming screenings in 2016-2017 revealed increased cases in all foci except the East Boffa area, where vector control had been effective. Vector control continued during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic and at the same time targeted door-to-door screenings were introduced to target high-risk individuals. Since 2018, around 30,000 at-risk individuals have been screened annually. These strategies reduced the total number of new cases below 1 per 10,000 inhabitants in endemic areas over the period 2019-2023, allowing to validate the elimination of HAT as a public health problem. The Guinean team and partners then focused on systematic spatial monitoring of patients and community engagement in vector control. The program also integrates control of other neglected tropical diseases and addresses new research questions, especially about anatomical and animal reservoirs for parasites. These efforts, combined with implementation of improved diagnostic tests and new oral treatments, through active involvement in multiple clinical trials and studies, now aim to interrupt HAT transmission by 2030.
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BibTeX
@article{kagbadouno2026elimination,
title = {{Elimination of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem in Republic of Guinea: Paving the way for zero transmission}},
author = {Moïse Kagbadouno and Oumou Camara and Bailo Mamadou Diallo and Abdoulaye Dansy Camara and Aissata Soumah and Mamadou Leno and Favié Béavogui and Mohamed Diaby Gassama and Issiaga Camara and Bamoro Coulibaly and Dramane Kaba and Aïssata Camara and Salimatou Boiro and Hamidou Ilboudo and Jean-Baptiste Rayaisse and Annette Macleod and Joseph Ndungu and Sylvain Bieler and Paul Bessell and Damien Ott and Veerle Lejon and Sophie Ravel and Fabrice Courtin and Philippe Solano and Vincent Jamonneau and Jean-Mathieu Bart and Brice Rotureau and Bruno Bucheton and Mamadou Camara},
journal = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0014469},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05734719v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Elimination of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem in Republic of Guinea: Paving the way for zero transmission
AU - Moïse Kagbadouno
AU - Oumou Camara
AU - Bailo Mamadou Diallo
AU - Abdoulaye Dansy Camara
AU - Aissata Soumah
AU - Mamadou Leno
AU - Favié Béavogui
AU - Mohamed Diaby Gassama
AU - Issiaga Camara
AU - Bamoro Coulibaly
AU - Dramane Kaba
AU - Aïssata Camara
AU - Salimatou Boiro
AU - Hamidou Ilboudo
AU - Jean-Baptiste Rayaisse
AU - Annette Macleod
AU - Joseph Ndungu
AU - Sylvain Bieler
AU - Paul Bessell
AU - Damien Ott
AU - Veerle Lejon
AU - Sophie Ravel
AU - Fabrice Courtin
AU - Philippe Solano
AU - Vincent Jamonneau
AU - Jean-Mathieu Bart
AU - Brice Rotureau
AU - Bruno Bucheton
AU - Mamadou Camara
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0014469
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05734719v1
AB - The Republic of Guinea has faced an important challenge with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), which was endemic over the last century. After initial control in the 1960s-1970s, HAT resurged in the 1990s along the Guinean coast, driven by economic and demographic pressures on the mangrove ecosystem. In response, the Guinean government established a national control program in 2002, focusing on medical mass screenings. In 2012, vector control using tiny targets was introduced in the East Boffa focus to reduce fly density and human-vector contact. However, the Ebola epidemic from 2013 to 2016 disrupted these efforts, leading to a reliance on passive screening. Resuming screenings in 2016-2017 revealed increased cases in all foci except the East Boffa area, where vector control had been effective. Vector control continued during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic and at the same time targeted door-to-door screenings were introduced to target high-risk individuals. Since 2018, around 30,000 at-risk individuals have been screened annually. These strategies reduced the total number of new cases below 1 per 10,000 inhabitants in endemic areas over the period 2019-2023, allowing to validate the elimination of HAT as a public health problem. The Guinean team and partners then focused on systematic spatial monitoring of patients and community engagement in vector control. The program also integrates control of other neglected tropical diseases and addresses new research questions, especially about anatomical and animal reservoirs for parasites. These efforts, combined with implementation of improved diagnostic tests and new oral treatments, through active involvement in multiple clinical trials and studies, now aim to interrupt HAT transmission by 2030.
SN - 1935-2727
SN - 1935-2735
ER -