Politics and Government Politics and Government

What Is the Deadly Sleeping Sickness That Causes Fever and Psychosis Risking a Worldwide Spread?


Published on 2024-12-25 07:02:19 - MSN
  Print publication without navigation

  • A deadly parasitic infection known as trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness may spread across the world, causing sleeping difficulties at night. Experts say the condition is usually mild at first but can rapidly worsen if left untreated.

The article discusses the resurgence of African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness, a disease caused by the parasite *Trypanosoma brucei* and transmitted by the tsetse fly. This illness, which was nearly eradicated, is now seeing a potential comeback due to factors like climate change, increased travel, and reduced control measures. Symptoms include fever, headaches, and can progress to severe neurological issues like psychosis, confusion, and sleep disturbances, eventually leading to coma or death if untreated. The disease poses a significant risk of spreading worldwide, especially with the movement of infected individuals and the expansion of tsetse fly habitats. Efforts to control the disease include surveillance, treatment with drugs like pentamidine, and vector control, but challenges remain due to the parasite's ability to evade the immune system and the complexity of its lifecycle.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-in/science/microbiology/what-is-the-deadly-sleeping-sickness-that-causes-fever-and-psychosis-risking-a-worldwide-spread/ar-AA1wqlmj ]