Starting from 1900 and lasting for two decades, there was an outbreak of human sleeping sickness in Uganda. The  first case of human infection was recorded in 1898. It was particularly severe in 1901, with death toll estimated to about 20,000. More than 250,000 people died in the epidemic. The disease was then known as the "negro lethargy." The Commission The matter of Uganda epidemic was discussed in the Council of the Royal Society in 1902. At that time there was an international debate on the etiology of sleeping sickness with many favouring a contagious nature since the infection was spreading fast. Plans for investigation was placed in the hands of the Royal Society Malaria Committee. As proposed by Patrick Mansion , the most suitable investors were Aldo Castellani and George Carmichael Low, both from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as former students of Mansion , and Cuthbert Christy, a medical officer on duty in Bombay, India. The Royal Society made the three-member Sleeping Sickness Commission on 10 May 1902. The first Commission Low was appointed as leader of the team in the first Commission, . He was assigned to look for Filaria perstans (later renamed Mansonella perstans), a small roundworm transmitted by flies, as a possible cause of sleeping sickness. Low had previously in 1901 established that another roundworm Filaria bancrofti (later renamed was the cause of elephantiasis in humans. Since the initial discovery of Mansion in 1878 that F. bancrofti was transmitted by mosquitos (Culex quinquefasciatus), it was believed that roundworms and mosquitos were associated with the sleeping sickness. This was the main reason the Royal Society put the matter under its Malaria Committee. Castellani was assigned to investigate bacteria as another possible etiology; while Christy was to make epidemiological studies. The team arrived at Entebbe and set up a laboratory there in July 1902.  There were frictions between the team members, and Christy, who was regarded as playing only a minor role, resorted to idling his time trekking and hunting. The first investigation lasted up to the end of the year until Low returned to London to become superintendent of the London School of Tropical Medicine. The team was described as an "ill-assorted group , " and  the expedition "a failure."  The second Commission The Royal Society constituted the second Commission in the early 1903. With David Nunes Nabarro of the University College Hospital, was appointed "Head of the Commission" on 5 January. But Nabarro  asked the Royal Society to make someone else as the head.  David Bruce of the Royal Army Medical Corps was then appointed leader of the team  . Bruce and Nabarro joined Castellani and Christy on 16 March. The Commission terminated in August as Bruce left Africa to work in Malta .
Starting from 1900 and lasting for two decades, there was an outbreak of human sleeping sickness in Uganda. The outbreak originated in the Busoga kingdom in eastern Uganda. The first case of human infection was recorded in 1898. It was particularly severe in 1901, with death toll estimated to about 20,000. More than 250,000 people died in the epidemic. The disease was then known as the "negro lethargy." The Commission The matter of Uganda epidemic was discussed in the Council of the Royal Society in 1902. At that time there was an international debate on the etiology of sleeping sickness with many favouring a contagious nature since the infection was spreading fast. Plans for investigation was placed in the hands of the Royal Society Malaria Committee. As proposed by Patrick Manson , the most suitable investors were Aldo Castellani and George Carmichael Low, both from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as former students of Manson , and Cuthbert Christy, a medical officer on duty in Bombay, India. The Royal Society made the three-member Sleeping Sickness Commission on 10 May 1902. The first Commission Low was appointed as leader the first Commission . He was assigned to look for Filaria perstans (later renamed Mansonella perstans), a small roundworm transmitted by flies, as a possible cause of sleeping sickness. Low had previously in 1901 established that another roundworm Filaria bancrofti (later renamed was the cause of elephantiasis in humans. Since the initial discovery of Manson in 1878 that F. bancrofti was transmitted by mosquitos (Culex quinquefasciatus), it was believed that roundworms and mosquitos were associated with the sleeping sickness. This was the main reason the Royal Society put the matter under its Malaria Committee. Castellani was assigned to investigate a bacterium, Streptococcus, as another possible etiology; while Christy was to make epidemiological studies. The team arrived at Entebbe and set up a laboratory there in July 1902. Initially the laboratory was planned to set up at Jinja, which is closer to Busoga, where the outbreak occurred. But Entebbe was chosen for administrative reason and partly due to report of filaria in the region. There were frictions between the team members, and Christy, who was regarded as playing only a minor role, resorted to idling his time trekking and hunting. The team was described as an "ill-assorted group " and a "queer lot", and the expedition "a failure." Low, whose character was described as "truculent and prone to take offence," was soon dejected by the fact that filaria was not prevalent among the people with sleeping sickness, left Africa in October 1902, never to return. The second Commission The Royal Society constituted the second Commission in the early 1903. With David Nunes Nabarro of the University College Hospital, was appointed "Head of the Commission" on 5 January. But Nabarro , on concern that he was not senior to the other members in age and service, asked the Royal Society to make someone else as the head. Upon the request of the Royal Society, the British War Office appointed David Bruce of the Royal Army Medical Corps was then appointed leader of the team in February . Bruce and Nabarro joined Castellani and Christy on 16 March. The Commission terminated in August as Bruce left Africa with successful investigation .
A
outbreak originated in the Busoga kingdom in eastern Uganda. The
R
Mansion
Manson
R
Mansion
Manson
R
of the team in the first Commission,
the first Commission
R
Mansion
Manson
R
bacteria
a bacterium, Streptococcus,
A
Initially the laboratory was planned to set up at Jinja, which is closer to Busoga, where the outbreak occurred. But Entebbe was chosen for administrative reason and partly due to report of filaria in the region.
D
first investigation lasted up to the end of the year until Low returned to London to become superintendent of the London School of Tropical Medicine. The
D
,
A
a "queer lot", and
A
Low, whose character was described as "truculent and prone to take offence," was soon dejected by the fact that filaria was not prevalent among the people with sleeping sickness, left Africa in October 1902, never to return.
A
, on concern that he was not senior to the other members in age and service,
A
Upon the request of the Royal Society, the British War Office appointed
A
in February
R
to work in Malta
with successful investigation