Filariasis on the North Nyasa Lake Shore

Abstract

A small series of investigations have been performed to assess the prevalence of microfilaraemia and elephantiasis occurring on the North Nyasa lake shore. Only two areas are present in Nyasaland where filariasis is endemic, and these are the Lower Shire in the southernmost part of the country and the Songwe area at the northern end of Lake Nyasa. This latter area is on the border between Nyasaland and Tanganyika. The Tanganyikan part of the North Nyasa lake shore was investigated in 1950 by the East African Filariasis Research Unit, and they found a very high incidence of microfilaraemia and of elephantiasis. The Kyela area, as this is usually known as, is very similar to the Songwe area in Nyasaland, the main difference being that the Tanganyikan side is more easily accessible and economically the people are more advanced.