Sleeping Sickness on the Ropes

A new drug is poised to kick sleeping sickness to the curb, and not a moment too soon. The goal is to eradicate this scourge by 2030, and it looks like we might actually make it. A fresh treatment’s shown some serious promise, and if it delivers, it’s going to be a huge win for global health.

The Lowdown

Sleeping sickness is a nasty bug that’s been plaguing people for centuries. It’s caused by a parasite that’s transmitted through the bite of an infected tsetse fly, and if left untreated, it’s almost always fatal. The new drug’s still in the experimental stages, but so far, so good – it’s looking like it could be the silver bullet we’ve been waiting for.