Rachel ter Horst, medical advocacy adviser at Medecins Sans Frontieres, describes findings presented at the recent 31st biennial International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control in Bamako, Mali, in this “BMJ Group Blogs” post. Noting that the annual reported incidence of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is decreasing but still “considerable,” she concludes, “Elimination of this scourge from even the hardest to reach places could become feasible. A good rapid test, effective treatment in tablet form, commitment, action (including surveillance), and investment are the ingredients needed to push sleeping sickness down and keep it down” (9/29).