WHO states that the announcement marks a significant achievement in the public health sector, coinciding with the global health community's observance of Neglected Tropical Diseases Day.

In a groundbreaking achievement for global health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared Guinea free of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly referred to as sleeping sickness, as a public health threat.

This remarkable success marks sleeping sickness as the first neglected tropical disease (NTD) to be eliminated in Guinea, representing a significant milestone on World NTD Day, celebrated on January 30th.

In response to the announcement, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took to social media on Thursday to extend his congratulations to Guinea.

"Today's declaration is not only a testament to the global strides made in the fight against neglected tropical diseases, but it also serves as a beacon of hope for countries still grappling with human African trypanosomiasis," stated Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease spread by tsetse flies infected with the trypanosome parasite. Its symptoms range from fever and headaches to more severe neurological issues such as confusion and disturbances in sleep, which can occur in its later stages.

Oumar Diouhé BAH, Guinea's Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, explained, "The eradication of sleeping sickness is the result of years of dedicated efforts by the Guinean government, its partners, and local communities, all within the framework of the national policy aimed at addressing all neglected tropical diseases."

The WHO attributes Guinea’s success in eradicating this potentially deadly disease to a combination of sustained investment, strategic partnerships, and active community involvement.

The reemergence of sleeping sickness in Guinea’s coastal regions during the 1990s, caused by increasing human activity in mangrove areas, led the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene to launch the National Programme for the Control of HAT in 2002.

Guinea's progress in eliminating the disease was bolstered by support from the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and later by organizations such as the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative and the Institut Pasteur de Guinée, which played key roles in initiating widespread medical screenings for early diagnosis and treatment.

In 2012, vector control measures were introduced to disrupt the transmission cycle of the disease. These measures targeted the tsetse flies directly, and the deployment of insecticide-treated mini-screens proved highly effective in reducing the fly populations, according to WHO.

Guinea’s journey toward eliminating sleeping sickness faced several hurdles. The Ebola outbreak between 2013 and 2015 severely disrupted the country’s health systems, leading to an uptick in sleeping sickness cases. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 created further challenges.

Despite these setbacks, WHO commended Guinea for its quick adaptability, noting the country’s swift implementation of door-to-door HAT screenings to sustain their efforts.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, lauded Guinea's achievement, stating, "The elimination of human African trypanosomiasis by Guinea represents a major public health milestone. Vulnerable families and communities can now live free from the threat of this deadly disease."

In addition to Guinea, seven other countries have been recognized by WHO for successfully eliminating the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis. These countries include Togo (2020), Benin (2021), Côte d'Ivoire (2021), Uganda (2022), Equatorial Guinea (2022), Ghana (2023), and Chad (2024).