tsetse fly

Any of a number of blood-feeding African flies of the genus Glossina, some of which transmit the disease nagana to cattle and sleeping sickness to human beings. Tsetse flies may grow up to 1.5 cm/0.6 in long.

There are 22 species of tsetse fly in sub-Saharan Africa.

In February 2002 a multi-million dollar campaign to rid Africa of the tsetse fly was launched by African countries with support from the United Nations. Aiming to reduce the spread of sleeping sickness, which kills up to 400,000 people each year, the campaign involved releasing large numbers of sterilized males, trapping flies, and applying insecticide to the backs of cattle.