• The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Kenya free of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness, as a public health challenge.
• This achievement makes Kenya the 10th nation to eliminate the disease, representing a significant step forward in the global fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
• Sleeping sickness, caused by the Trypanosoma brucei parasite and transmitted by the tsetse fly, can be fatal if untreated.
• WHO officials credited Kenya’s sustained public health measures, disease surveillance, and community engagement for the elimination milestone.
• Global health experts have hailed this development as a model for other endemic nations, underscoring that continued vigilance will be essential to prevent a resurgence.