Human African trypanosomiasis in a Belgian traveller returning from the Masai Mara area, Kenya, February 2012

J Clerinx; E Vlieghe; V Asselman; S Van de Casteele; M B Maes; V Lejon

doi:10.2807/ese.17.10.20111-en

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Human African trypanosomiasis in a Belgian traveller returning from the Masai Mara area, Kenya, February 2012
J Clerinx¹ , E Vlieghe^1,2 , V Asselman^1,2 , S Van de Casteele³ , M B Maes⁴ , V Lejon¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium ² Department of Tropical Diseases, University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium ³ Department of Nephrology, Hospital St. Jan Brugge, Belgium ⁴ Haematology laboratory, University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium

Correspondence:
J Clerinx
jclerinx itg.be
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Citation style for this article: Clerinx J, Vlieghe E, Asselman V, Van de Casteele S, Maes M B, Lejon V. Human African trypanosomiasis in a Belgian traveller returning from the Masai Mara area, Kenya, February 2012. Euro Surveill. 2012;17(10):pii=20111. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.17.10.20111-en Received: 05 Mar 2012

Abstract

A Belgian traveller was diagnosed with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) due to Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense nine days after visiting the Masai Mara area in Kenya. He presented with an inoculation chancre and was treated with suramin within four days of fever onset. Two weeks earlier, HAT was also reported in a German traveller who had visited the Masai Mara area. Because no cases have occurred in the area for over 12 years, this may indicate a focal cluster of HAT.