Human African trypanosomiasis, more commonly called sleeping sickness, is induced by a parasite, the trypanosome, transmitted to humans by the bite of an insect, the glossinid tse-tse fly.
Not only that, but Africa had diseases of its own, including yellow fever, malaria, and sleeping sickness, all of which killed Europeans in staggering numbers.
" What is that apathetic being doing? " she demanded, pushing her thick entangled locks from her wasted face. " Has he fallen into a lethargy, or is he dead? "
" John, " she murmured to herself, " John ..." Then " My Ford, " she wondered, have I given this one its sleeping sickness injection, or haven't I? She simply couldn't remember.