Sleeping sickness in Zambia and Zimbabwe

On 18 December 2024, the United States Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) issued a travel alert for safari areas in Zambia and Zimbabwe for East African sleeping sickness after cases were identified in returning travellers.

The affected areas are on either side of the Zambezi River, downstream of Lake Kariba: Churundu (Zambia) and Mana Pools National Park, Hurungwe and Charara Safari Areas (Zimbabwe)

East African sleeping sickness is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei which is transmitted through the bite of an infected tsetse fly.

The bite of a tsetse fly is painful. The area around an infected bite is usually tender and swollen, with an ulcerated chancre often occurring 5 – 15 days after the bite. Fever and headache will occur, followed by coma and death if the infection is untreated.

Advice for travellers

Sleeping sickness is rare in travellers, but the potential severity of infection requires that precautions be taken.

• Travellers should wear long, thicker clothing in areas where tsetse flies are found, avoiding darker colours, particularly blue, as these attract the flies. They should be aware that tsetse flies can bite through thin clothing.
• Importantly, clothing should be impregnated with permethrin insecticide
• Insect repellent should be applied to exposed skin, preferably 50% DEET
• Travellers should avoid undergrowth where tsetse flies may be present

No vaccine is available against sleeping sickness. Specialist treatment is required if infection is suspected.

Travellers becoming unwell during or after travel to an area where tsetse flies may be present should seek immediate medical attention.

For further information, see the TRAVAX African trypanosomiasis and insect bite avoidance pages.