In response to research and the CBS "60 Minutes" film, "Sleeping Sickness", Kids for World Health has chosen for its immediate target, Trypanosomiasis or Sleeping Sickness.
Human African Trypanosomiasis, also called Sleeping Sickness, is one of the world’s most neglected diseases, affecting poor populations in remote rural areas of Africa. It is a fatal disease if left untreated, and is now affecting 500,000 children, women, and men on the continent. Sleeping Sickness is caused by a parasite called the "trypanosome" and is carried to human beings and animals by the tsetse fly. This parasite multiplies in the bloodstream and lymph nodes causing fever, weakness, sweating, pain in the joints, and stiffness. Over time, it migrates to the brain causing seizures, madness, and finally coma and death. Those infected by the insect may show signs of illness immediately or may not show symptoms for years. However, they do become carriers of the disease, and whenever they are bitten by a tsetse fly, the insect picks up the parasite and spreads it to the next fly-bite victim.
It is estimated that 60 million people in Africa are exposed to the infective bite of the tsetse fly. Animals like cattle, can also become infected, greatly affecting the life of the rural people.
In 1960, the disease was brought close to elimination, but then resurged dramatically as health systems broke down and control programs were abandoned or weakened by political problems and wars in Africa. At present, major epidemics are taking place in central Africa in the countries of Angola, Congo, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, Malawi and Tanzania. Death, in certain villages, may reach levels as high as 50% of the entire village, and infected individuals, having no access to health services, die in their villages due to the unavailability of care. The cases reported each year are only a small fraction of the real number of infected individuals since only 3-4 million people are under surveillance out of 60 million considered at risk for the disease.

Sleeping Sickness is a curable disease. Attempts to cure patients in the late stages have been partially successful with the use of a highly painful and dangerous drug Melarsoprol, made of an arsenic and anti-freeze compound invented 70 years ago.The drug, although available in small quantities, causes death among approximately 15-20% of those treated. It has been known, however, by pharmaceutical companies for more than 10 years, that eflornithine is a virtual miracle cure for Sleeping Sickness. In 1995, the drug was no longer manufactured due to high production costs, low profits, and its negative effect on cancer, for which it was originally being tested. But in 2001, the active ingredient reappeared in a women’s vanity product called Vaniqua, intended to remove facial hair.
After joint international efforts, public awareness, and leadership, a commitment was made by Aventis Pharmaceutical Company of France in May, 2001 to donate a five year contribution of three specific drugs in the treatment of Sleeping Sickness- pentamidine[used for earlier stage treatment], melarsoprol, and eflornithine which has a global value of US$ 12.5 million dollars. Another $12.5 million was donated to strengthen surveillance and control. Other partners in this effort include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Bayer, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Medicins Sans Frontieres- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, and the governments of Belgium and France.
While drugs are now more available and progress has been made, thanks to the Global Alliance created by the World Health Organization, a long-term plan has not been developed, and the drugs are not necessarily available where they are needed. Most victims still have to be identified and the drug administered. New drugs or more simple forms of the present drugs need to be created and researched. Without a long-term commitment, the disease will not be controlled. Much remains to be done to achieve complete elimination of Sleeping Sickness and to save thousands of lives from unnecessary death.

Summary of Facts: - 500,000 people are currently infected- the disease kills over 65,000 people annually that are known. - Sleeping Sickness threatens 60 million people, but only 7% have access to adequate medical diagnosis and treatment. - Specific to sub-Saharan Africa, Sleeping Sickness is spread by infected tsetse flies. - SS causes fever, weakness, and later, confusion, seizures, and signs of mental illness. - If left untreated, people with the disease slip into a coma and die. - Eflornithine, the most effective treatment, was out of production from 1995 to 2001 until a profitable cosmetic use for the drug was discovered. - Although there is virtually little to no research and development into new medicines for the treatment of SS in humans, companies are researching a form of the disease that infects cattle. - Aventis Pharmaceutical Company in France, that holds the patent, has recently made a five year commitment of donated drugs. - Cost of treatment for one person is approximately $70 US. - Funding for surveillance, research, training for doctors, and treatment are critically needed for this disease that has reached epidemic stages in approximately 7 countries.

Some links to more information on Sleeping Sickness: - www.who.int/health-topics/trypanosomiasis-african/en/ - www.who.int/emc/diseases/tryp/