02337nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260003400042653005700076653001700133653002400150653002100174100001200195700001500207700001300222700001200235700001300247700001400260700001500274700001400289700001200303245016700315856007900482300001200561490000800573520144100581022002502022       2021                            d  bOxford University Press (OUP)10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health10aParasitology10aInfectious Diseases10aGeneral Medicine1 aAliee M1 aCastaño S1 aDavis CN1 aPatel S1 aMiaka EM1 aSpencer S1 aKeeling MJ1 aChitnis N1 aRock KS00aPredicting the impact of COVID-19 interruptions on transmission of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis in two health zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo  uhttps://academic.oup.com/trstmh/article-pdf/115/3/245/36508432/trab019.pdf  a245-2520 v1153 a<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
               <jats:p>Many control programmes against neglected tropical diseases have been interrupted due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including those that rely on active case finding. In this study we focus on gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (gHAT), where active screening was suspended in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to the pandemic. We use two independent mathematical models to predict the impact of COVID-19 interruptions on transmission and reporting and achievement of the 2030 elimination of transmission (EOT) goal for gHAT in two moderate-risk regions of the DRC. We consider different interruption scenarios, including reduced passive surveillance in fixed health facilities, and whether this suspension lasts until the end of 2020 or 2021. Our models predict an increase in the number of new infections in the interruption period only if both active screening and passive surveillance were suspended, and with a slowed reduction—but no increase—if passive surveillance remains fully functional. In all scenarios, the EOT may be slightly pushed back if no mitigation, such as increased screening coverage, is put in place. However, we emphasise that the biggest challenge will remain in the higher-prevalence regions where EOT is already predicted to be behind schedule without interruptions unless interventions are bolstered.</jats:p>  a0035-9203, 1878-3503