Sleeping Sickness: The Long Road, by John Stanmeyer

Sleeping sickness is endemic in 36 African countries. Spread by the bite of a tsetse fly, the disease is signaled by the onset of fever, headaches, and joint pain, followed by disorientation and profound fatigue that makes it difficult to stay awake—hence the name sleeping sickness. Most cases appear in parts of Africa where conflict reigns but medical coverage and surveillance are weak. To reach these patients we need new and easier diagnostic tests and shorter, more adaptable treatments.