[African trypanosomiasis--a rare imported disease].

This year at least nine cases of African trypanosomiasis have occurred among Europeans visiting the Serengeti Park in Tanzania. One of them was a 26-year-old Norwegian woman who was bitten by a tsetse fly in her face. She developed fever, nausea and other symptoms, and had thrombocytopenia and pathological liver values; trypanosoma parasites were demonstrated in her blood. The recommended drug, suramin, was not readily available in Tanzania and she was transported to Oslo. The diagnosis was confirmed. She had no affection of the central nervous system and was treated successfully with suramin only. Increased tourist traffic to exotic destinations may lead to more frequent import of trypanosomiasis to European countries. Drugs to treat the disease must be readily available.