Atlas of distribution of tsé-tsé flies in Africa

Atlas of tsé-tsé flies

Rome /FAO [ENA] On 24th September, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released the continental atlas of the distribution of tsetse flies in Africa, a vital tool in combatting an often-lethal parasitic disease among livestock that causes billions of dollars in economic losses for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. 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. While sleeping sickness is no longer considered a public health problem, with fewer than 2,000 cases reported each year in humans, the disease still severely affects livestock in Africa. Animal trypanosomosis, known as “nagana” in cattle, hinders milk and meat production, as well as the animals' ability to work. This leads to food insecurity and decreased

income for millions of African farmers who depend on livestock. Efforts to control and eliminate animal trypanosomosis require decisions based on sound evidence. However, the last continental maps of tsetse distribution in Africa were developed more than half a century ago, and no Africa-wide map of animal trypanosomosis occurrence has even been generated. Years in the making, the FAO atlas is the first significant step in filling such data gaps. Its data on tsetse distribution is based on 669 scientific papers spanning 31 years (from 1990 to 2020). It combines geolocation data such as Google Earth with entomological fieldwork, including stationary traps and fly rounds using mobile devices.