Present situation of schistosomiasis in the Libyan Arab Republic. I. Bilharziasis in Ubari District in Fezzan (Sebha Governorate.

A survey for urinary schistosomiasis was conducted in all the schools (18 in number) of ubari district (Sebha Governorate) of the Libyan Arab Republic. Out of 1874, school pupils examined 99 proved positive at the rate of 5.3 percent. Boys were more infected than girls and the peak of infection was at eleven years. The intensity of infection was light. New foci were detected in five towns and villages brignging up the total number to 20 out of 31. Samples of population in nine towns and villages (about one quarter) were examined covering 1435, with 34 infected at a rate of 2.4 percent. Treatment of infected pupils started with Niridazole at the standard dose, with about 60 percent cure rate. Eleven towns and villages were found to harbour Bulinus snails in some of their farms, increasing the number to 20 out of 31. These snails belong to subgenus Bulinus. However, they fall in four distinctive types based on the variation of shell morphology. Antisnail measures were introduced for the first time using copper sulphate with satisfactory preliminary results.