By Duncan Mboyah
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hails African countries for adopting continental atlas of tsetse flies and animal trypanosomiasis, a vital tool in combating an often-lethal parasitic disease among livestock.
Dr. Giuliano Cecchi, Environmental Engineer, Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT) at FAO said that 14 countries have so far adopted the FAO methodology and developed their own national atlases while four have started developing theirs.
Dr. Cecchi noted that the development of atlases was initiated with FAO as a strategic step to help control trypanosomiasis and tsetse fly infestation in the continent where it causes billions of dollars in economic losses.
He said that the atlas enables the countries to identify the history and areas affected by trypanosomiasis and tsetse flies for easier management.
“The centralized system will help in supporting decision making in the management of trypanosomiasis that is a big problem in the continent,” Cecchi said during the the37th General Conference of the International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC) that was held in in Kenya.
Dr. Cecchi observed that Africa has a lot of data on trypanosomiasis and tsetse fly but the information is scattered hence making it difficult for access.
Dr. Cecchi said that seven additional countries are also in the process of developing their atlases that will be launched soon.
He noted that the innovative idea is coming in handy since the last continental maps of tsetse distribution in Africa were developed more than half a century ago, and no Africa-wide map of animal trypanosomiasis occurrence has even been generated.
Dr. Cecchi added that by developing their own atlases, countries are capable of developing sustainable and effective evidence decisions.
He noted that Kenya’s atlas development is so far the most advanced in Africa since the east African country has since updated the second edition and include data on disease control.
He said that the atlas has helped the country to understand and fight tsetse flies and trypanosomiasis.
Dr. Seth Onyango, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC) said that Kenya’s first atlas was developed in 2006 – 2019 and has also developed the second one that was published and launched early this year.
Dr. Onyango revealed that the atlas that takes five years to develop involved a teamwork from different stakeholders.
“The atlas shows the type of tsetse flies and where they are found in Kenya hence gives guidance to scientists to pursue them and dismantle their bases,” he added.
The atlas he added, also reveal the type of flies and areas they frequent hence giving researchers easier time in its management.
Tsetse flies (genus Glossina) are blood-sucking insects that act as incubators and carriers for trypanosomes, single-celled parasites responsible for causing debilitating and often fatal diseases.
In humans, this disease is also known as "sleeping sickness," resulting in an illness that affects the nervous system and manifests symptoms such as fatigue, severe headaches, and coma.
If not diagnosed and appropriately treated, the disease almost invariably leads to death.
According to FAO, in total, 7,386 sites across Africa were analyzed, producing the most comprehensive maps to date of the tsetse fly's distribution on the continent.