Human African Trypanosomiasis in the Northern Region of Zimbabwe: Reported Cases, Health Implications and the Way Forward

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) keeps resurfacing in Zimbabwe raising the need to capacitate the health system with adequate tools to eliminate the disease as a public health threat in the country. The aim of this study is to document recorded HAT cases in Zimbabwe as well as highlighting the impact of the disease and potential control strategies. Published research articles with main focus on HAT in Africa and Zimbabwe were used. The country recorded zero cases of HAT from 1998 to 2004, contrary to that 28 cases and 3 deaths were recorded between 2005 and 2015 and the highest number of cases were recorded in 2012 (9 cases). The cases are restricted to the Zambezi Valley, mainly Hurungwe and Kariba Districts. The distribution of the disease is linked to the distribution of tsetse flies in the country and the current population at high risk are game rangers and tourists as most of the cases are being reported in game parks (for example Mana pools). This may affect the tourism sector negatively if control measures are not placed in time. Furthermore, limited diagnostic capacity and lack of health personnel that are specifically trained for HAT resulted in misdiagnosis of the disease in the country there by distorting the true epidemiological situation of the disease in the country. Hence there is need for a strengthened diagnostic and surveillance system that monitors both HAT and Animal African Trypanosomiasis (One Health Approach) if elimination is to be achieved by 2030.