The epidemiology of human sleeping sickness in the Lambwe Valley, South Nyanza, Kenya. 1972

H J Watson

Human infection with Trypanosoma rhodesiense in the Lambwe Valley area of South Nyanza, Kenya, was first reported in 1959 although T. gambiense sleeping sickness had been the present there since the turn of the century. The two forms of the disease are associated with the presence of the tsetse Glossina fuscipes, which is plentiful and widespread throughout the hinterland, including part of the study area, and G. fuscipes in the thickets near the shores of Lake Victoria and along some of the river systems. Fairly successful attempts have been made to eliminate tsetse by control operations around the lake shore and by aerial spraying of insecticide in the Lambwe Valley. The incidence and geographical distribution of cases of T. rhodesiense sleeping sickness in the Lambwe Valley are described in this report. Eight survey areas were studied between June 1968 and August 1970. Three types of survey procedure were adopted and blood samples were taken for examination. The most reliable method of demonstrating trypanosomes was by direct microscopy of stained blood films. Cases were treated with either suramin or melarsoprol, the latter being preferred for long-standing infections, but a course of suramin was given first. Although there were localized foci of infection in the study area, cases occurred sporadically, usually in April, i.e., in the early part of the long rainy season. It is suggested that, for diagnosis, survey teams should be replaced by a few fixed diagnostic microscopy centres.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007630 Kenya A republic in eastern Africa, south of ETHIOPIA, west of SOMALIA with TANZANIA to its south, and coastline on the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Nairobi. Republic of Kenya
D008297 Male Males
D011159 Population Surveillance Ongoing scrutiny of a population (general population, study population, target population, etc.), generally using methods distinguished by their practicability, uniformity, and frequently their rapidity, rather than by complete accuracy. Surveillance, Population
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D004197 Disease Reservoirs Animate or inanimate sources which normally harbor disease-causing organisms and thus serve as potential sources of disease outbreaks. Reservoirs are distinguished from vectors (DISEASE VECTORS) and carriers, which are agents of disease transmission rather than continuing sources of potential disease outbreaks. Humans may serve both as disease reservoirs and carriers. Disease Reservoir,Human Disease Reservoirs,Infectious Disease Reservoir,Reservoirs of Infection,Infectious Disease Reservoirs,Disease Reservoir, Human,Disease Reservoir, Infectious,Disease Reservoirs, Human,Human Disease Reservoir,Infection Reservoir,Infection Reservoirs,Reservoir, Disease,Reservoir, Infectious Disease,Reservoirs, Human Disease
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000367 Age Factors Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time. Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age

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