Gates Foundation helps fight sleeping sickness with $15M

The Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp has received 17.5 million dollars (€15 million) from the Gates Foundation to help eradicate sleeping sickness in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bill and Melinda Gates have funded similar projects in many different locations, including Glasgow and North Carolina, USA.

In Antwerp, Belgium, the funding will support the GAMBIT project, aimed at accelerating the fight against the parasitic disease, which is spread by the tsetse fly and which is fatal unless treated, the Belga News Agency reported. 

People and animals are at risk

Very rarely, however, infections via mother to child, blood, and sexual activity are also observed, the EISA Global organisation said. “Incidentally, West African sleeping sickness mainly infects people, while East African sleeping sickness can infect wild animals and cattle,” they added.

While cases have dropped sharply in recent decades, detecting the remaining infections has become increasingly complex.

It is estimated that some 60 million people in 36 sub-Saharan African countries are at risk of contracting African sleeping sickness, while nearly 500,000 are already infected, EISA Global said. 

Why is it called that way?

“As the disease progresses, it causes meningoencephalitis and, eventually, coma and/or death, hence its common name, ‘sleeping sickness,’ the organisation added. 

Symptoms begin with a low-grade fever, pain in the joints and itchy skin. Eventually, the parasites carrying the disease enter the brain. Then hallucinations and unpredictable, disruptive behaviour are common. A victim experiences excruciating pain and eventually lapses into a coma before dying.

The project in Antwerp, due to launch in 2029, will lay the groundwork for a “screen-and-treat” approach using one-dose oral drug acoziborole. Mobile teams will test remote communities for antibodies and treat positive cases on the spot. This could make eradication possible, as humans are the parasite’s only host.

Turning the tide for good

ITM infectious disease expert Elena Nicco described the initiative as a “turning point”, saying the strategy could “turn the tide for good”.

“Trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis (sleeping sickness) have a devastating impact on much of the developing world,” said Dr. Gordon Perkin, Director of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“New drugs are desperately needed and we’re optimistic that this consortium will not only be able to develop them, but will ensure that they are distributed to those who are infected as quickly and efficiently as possible,” he added.