Nigeria deals blow on tsetse flies, declares Trypanosomiasis no longer a public health challenge

The Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR) based in Kaduna has declared that the disease is no longer a public health problem in Nigeria due to constant surveillance activities and advancement in technology.

That much information was revealed on Tuesday by the Director-General of NITR, Dr. Augustine Igwe who said Nigeria was using aircraft to spray tsetse flies to suppress them before the introduction of advanced technology known as sterile insect technique.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 35th International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC) conference in Abuja, Dr. Igwe said the disease has been suppressed in Nigeria.

He said; “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.

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“To sustain this feat, the Federal Government has approved the construction of a modern tsetse mass-rearing facility at Vom, Plateau to eradicate the disease.

“This facility is to generate millions of sterile male tsetse flies for field releases for mop-up population of tsetse flies that might persist after suppression to achieve eradication.”

According to him, what the sterile insect technique technology means is that male tsetse flies can be sterilised and be released in the field.

“When released, the male sterilised tsetse flies will then meet with female tsetses to produce non-tsetse flies and by so doing, reduce the population of tsetse flies.

“ We have tested this in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Agriculture in an area in Nasarawa State and reduced tsetse in the area.’’

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