The incidence of bilharzia in Lusaka schools

The problem of schistosomiasis in Zambia is at present under review. The aim is to first establish the size and nature of the problem before attempts are made to combat the disease. For a proper perspective of the actual epidemiology of schistosomiasis there must be, first of all, some concept of the incidence of the disease. From hospital records (Ministry of Health: 1966) and from occasional publications (Henderson, 1969 ; Fine, 1969) it is becoming apparent that both S. haematobium and S. mansoni are endemic diseases in Zambia. Although no accurate overall survey has as yet been attempted, the pattern tends to suggest one of focal endemic distribution.