When an infected fly bites you, the infection spreads through your blood. African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease caused by a parasite and spread by the tsetse fly in sub-Saharan Africa. Description. If yes, are you aware about the Sleeping Sickness or so called by the medical experts as African Trypanosomiasis or Congo Trypanosiomiasis.This is a disorder caused by small parasites that are transmitted to human hosts by bites of infected tsetse flies (Glossina Genus). Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment Symptoms. If the disease is not treated, it can cause death. Final words on African sleeping sickness symptoms. Sleeping sickness also called African sleeping sickness or African trypanosomiasis, is an infection caused by two types of parasites Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosomoa brucei gambiense carried by the tsetse fly (genus Glossina). Key points about African sleeping sickness. What Is Sleeping Sickness? Risk is most prevalent in the region from Kigoma at Lake Tanganyika to Arusha in the northern part of the country. A person will get infected with African trypanosomiasis when he is bitten by tsetse fly that carries the parasite by name Trypanosoma brucei. Tsetse flies, found in … Wild mammal populations increased rapidly, accompanied by the tsetse fly. African trypanosomiasis, also called African sleeping sickness, is a parasitic disease spread by the tsetse fly. What is African sleeping sickness. Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is a parasitic infection found in sub-Saharan Africa, transmitted by the tsetse fly. Following the bite of the infected fly (both male and female can transmit infection), the parasite multiplies in the lymph and the blood of the person bitten, causing unspecific symptoms and signs such as headaches, fever, weakness, pain in the joints, lymphadenopathy, and stiffness. When this fly bites the humans, the infection spreads throughout the body through the blood. Key points about African sleeping sickness. It is caused by infection with protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Trypanosoma.They are transmitted to humans by tsetse fly (Glossina genus) bites which have acquired their infection from human beings or from animals harbouring human pathogenic parasites. Sleeping sickness is caused by two different parasites, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. With East African trypanosomiasis, symptoms begin within 1 to 4 weeks of getting an infected tsetse fly bite. Sleeping Sickness Causes. Uncontrollable sleep is one of the symptoms of this disease. Causes African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a disease spread by an infected tsetse fly, found in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (also known as West African Trypanosomiasis) is mostly present in forests along rivers as … The tsetse fly is the main carrier and transmitter of this disease. Prevention. Millions of people died of the disease in the early 20th century. Sleeping sickness, also called African trypanosomiasis, disease caused by infection with the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma brucei gambiense or the closely related subspecies T. brucei rhodesiense, transmitted by the tsetse fly (genus Glossina). Tanzania For Specific Travellers: Sleeping Sickness [risk] Risk is present in localized areas throughout the country. Tsetse fly What is African sleeping sickness? Travellers going on safari and rural areas should avoid getting bitten by tsetse … Although general laboratory studies may be helpful in the diagnosis of African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), a definitive diagnosis of T brucei infection requires actual detection of trypanosomes in blood, lymph nodes, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), skin chancre aspirates, or bone marrow.