Key points
- There is no vaccine or drug that prevents sleeping sickness.
- Avoid contact with tsetse flies to prevent the condition.
- You can take steps to prevent tsetse fly bites.
Prevention steps and strategies
The best way to prevent sleeping sickness is to avoid contact with the tsetse fly. If you're traveling to sub-Saharan Africa, and specifically regions where sleeping sickness is common, residents may be able to provide advice about places infested with the tsetse flies to avoid.
To prevent bites from the tsetse fly
- Wear protective, neutral-colored clothing.
- Tsetse flies can bite through thin fabric; therefore, it's recommended you wear medium-weight clothing.
- They are attracted to bright and very dark colors.
- Inspect vehicles for tsetse flies before entering.
- They are attracted to moving vehicles.
- Avoid bushes.
- The tsetse fly is less active during the hottest period of the day. It rests in bushes but will bite if disturbed.
- Use insect repellant.
- Permethrin-treated clothing and insect repellant are not particularly effective against tsetse flies, but they will prevent other insect bites that can cause illness.