Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has expressed concern at the increasing infections and subsequent death of one ranger due to sleeping sickness in the Zambezi Valley Area .Since 2009 to date one ranger has died while two others were infected. What makes the situation desperate is that patients are seeking treatment at University Teaching Hospital in Zambia. All cases that have been referred to Zambia have been successfully treated.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority records show that …

….Andy Tsvarai born on 5^th December 1980, died of sleeping sickness in October 2009. Tests for all other diseases suspected had turned negative and the day when Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) was diagnosed is the very day that he died.

This year, 2012,Tembo Paul Limbi (date of birth 21/11/62) was diagnosed of the disease in Zambia after being admitted at Mutenderi Mission Hospital in Zambia and later transferred to University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia when his condition continued to deteriorate. After two months of treatment Tembo was discharged.

The latest case diagnosed in May 2012 was that of Edmore Bote, born 15/08/77. Again he was first admitted at Mutenderi Mission Hospital in Zambia and later transferred to University Teaching Hospital, a Zambian Government Health institution.

It is against this background that the Authority is urging the Tsetse Control Division to urgently implement a tsetse control programme in the affected area to prevent the occurrence of further cases in order to save not only Parks staff but other residents and visitors to the area.

Tsetse flies are predominant in Zambezi Valley in Mana Pools, Chewore, Matusadona National Parks, Sapi, Hurungwe, Dande and Charara Safari Areas where Parks officers spend most of their time conducting anti-poaching activities.