The increased bilharzia hazard Through the construction of the Aswan High
Dam the risk of contracting bilharzia, a dangerous disease caused by certain
worms (Schistosoma), increased for all those Egyptians who have direct contact
with Nile water. In the life cycle of the worm a freshwater snail that makes its
habitat in the aquatic plants of the Nile plays a decisive role as an intermediate
host. Through direct contact with contaminated water the larvae enter the
human body through the skin, affecting different vital organs, which can cause
years of illness or even death. In spite of improved methods of treatment,
bilharzia has been on the increase in the tropical and subtropical countries
of Africa and Asia since dams were built, allowing an expansion of irrigation,
which brought about favourable conditions for the pathogenic agents in the
stagnant waters. The fact that bilharzia still exists as a serious danger can be
seen from the fact that in 1999 the government had 1,980 centres, units and
inspectorates devoted to combating the disease. Between 1986 and 1999 the
number of institutions for the treatment of bilharzia was increased by 42
per cent (CAPMAS 1995: 168; CAPMAS 2001b: 127). Today, unlike in former
years, the Egyptian authorities admit frankly that the increase in bilharzia in
Upper Egypt has to be attributed to the dam:
The rate of the persons affected with bilharzia has increased after the system
of basin irrigation was replaced by the system of permanent irrigation. The
reasons for this are:
1. Formerly the canals fell dry seasonally, which made the snails die. This does
not take place today.
2. There are more stagnant waters and more water plants today, which form
the habitat of the snails.
Dam the risk of contracting bilharzia, a dangerous disease caused by certain
worms (Schistosoma), increased for all those Egyptians who have direct contact
with Nile water. In the life cycle of the worm a freshwater snail that makes its
habitat in the aquatic plants of the Nile plays a decisive role as an intermediate
host. Through direct contact with contaminated water the larvae enter the
human body through the skin, affecting different vital organs, which can cause
years of illness or even death. In spite of improved methods of treatment,
bilharzia has been on the increase in the tropical and subtropical countries
of Africa and Asia since dams were built, allowing an expansion of irrigation,
which brought about favourable conditions for the pathogenic agents in the
stagnant waters. The fact that bilharzia still exists as a serious danger can be
seen from the fact that in 1999 the government had 1,980 centres, units and
inspectorates devoted to combating the disease. Between 1986 and 1999 the
number of institutions for the treatment of bilharzia was increased by 42
per cent (CAPMAS 1995: 168; CAPMAS 2001b: 127). Today, unlike in former
years, the Egyptian authorities admit frankly that the increase in bilharzia in
Upper Egypt has to be attributed to the dam:
The rate of the persons affected with bilharzia has increased after the system
of basin irrigation was replaced by the system of permanent irrigation. The
reasons for this are:
1. Formerly the canals fell dry seasonally, which made the snails die. This does
not take place today.
2. There are more stagnant waters and more water plants today, which form
the habitat of the snails.
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