For decades, human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, has been a major killer in 36 African countries. But that list is missing three names this year after the World Health Organisation certified Uganda, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea for showing the disease the way out.
The three countries have eliminated at least one form of sleeping sickness as a public health problem — a milestone that reflects years of collaborative national and international interventions focused on rigorous testing and quality surveillance.
The countries have detailed plans to continue surveillance to prevent future outbreaks.