NEW PARASITIC DISEASE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 2

NEW PARASITIC DISEASE

• SOLDIERS UNDER '•TREATMENT. Important investigations are at present being conducted by. tlio military authorities with a view of combating a peculiar parasitic disease known as billiarzia, which has been brought from Egypt to Australia by soldiers who liavo been invalided home sbk. At present, so far as is known, no member of tho civil population has contracted tho disease, but there aro soldiers suffering from it in several military hospitals in various parts of the Commonwealth. Tho dfseaso is common in Egypt, and it is also known in Africa. It is brought about by a sort of worm, or fluke, which thrives in bathing pools. The parasito attaches itself to tho skin of a bather, bores a way into its victim's body, and eventually lodges in ono of. tho organs. Europeans so attacked become seriously ill, although its effects 011 tho natives of Egypt and Africa are not generally so acute. \ Tho soldiers at present suffering from tho disease in Australia are being treated in isolation, and every; precaution is being takon to prevent - the diseaso spreading. From what is known of tho bilharzia parasito there is little danger to the community provided it can bo kept from finding its way into wells or pools. Even then it Is not eortain that the parasite would thrive in this country. At tho same tinio it is inadvisablo to tako any risks. It has been ascertained by the authorities that cases of tho disensc occurred among Australians who served in tho South African war. Then* is also a suspicion that a civilian in Western Australia contracted tho disease somo years ago, and eventually died from it. Tho man is believed to have lived in the samo locality as a soldier who snU'wed from tho disease in Africa. Tho history of this particular ease is now being inquired into. Tt suggesls that the bilharzia parasite might thrive in this country if it were given the chance, and the authorities are therefore all the moro anxious, to obtain tho fullest information on the snujcct. A report dealing- with tho matter is shortly lo be presented to the I'Vdeiill Minister of Defence,