The Nigerian Institute for Trypanosmiasis Research, NITR Kaduna, says Trypanosomiasis is no longer a public health problem in Nigeria due to surveillance activities and advanced technology.
Trypanosomiasis is a sleeping sickness in humans and animals. It is transmitted by an insect called tsetse fly.
The Institute’s Director General Augustine Igweh said this on the sidelines of the 35th International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control conference in Abuja.
The Director-General stated that Nigeria is using aircraft to spray tsetse flies before to suppress them before the introduction of advanced technology known as sterile insect technique.
He explained that “in the past, so many parts of the country were affected by this disease but due to surveillance activities and technology; we have been able to suppress the disease.
According to Igweh, what the sterile insect technique technology means is that male tsetse flies can be sterilised and be released in the field.
