Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection in a Chinese traveler returning from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania

A rare case of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection, causing human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), was documented in a Chinese traveler returning from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. This marks the first imported case of rhodesiense HAT reported in China, highlighting the disease's potential to spread beyond endemic regions through travel and migration. The diagnosis was confirmed using blood film analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing after the traveler developed fever upon return. Treatment with pentamidine followed by suramin led to recovery within a month. This case underscores the importance of vigilance in clinical settings for HAT in travelers visiting high-risk African regions, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Serengeti.

Liu, Q., Chen, X.-L., Chen, M.-X., Xie, H.-G., Liu, Q., Chen, Z.-Y., Lin, Y.-Y., Zheng, H., Chen, J.-X., Zhang, Y., & Zhou, X.-N. (2018). Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection in a Chinese traveler returning from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-018-0432-5