AFRICA/MALI - 70% of children infected by waters of Niger River and risk long term damage to vital organs. More than 250 million people in the world have Bilharziosis

Rome (Fides Service) - In developing countries dirty water causes 240 times as many deaths and diseases than in developed countries.
In Mali 70% of the children have Bilharziosis, a disease caused by water infested with worms which penetrate the skin. This disease affects more than 250 million people in the world, of these 213 million live in sub-Saharan countries. In Mali the Niger River infects 70% of the country's children who develop serious pathologies. The disease is found mostly along the banks of this river particularly at Dogon one of the worst hit localities where 77% and adolescents and 50% of school age children suffer from the effects of this disease and at Segou where 70% of children aged 7 to 14 are infected
The disease is caught by washing, swimming or playing in the Niger River walking barefoot in rice paddies or muddy land. Bilharziosis starts with skin eruption and fever followed by dysentery, loss of weight and inflammation of the liver. In its most serious form the infection causes long term damage to bladder, kidneys and liver which can degenerate into cancer and renal insufficiency.
The best way to fight bilharziosis, against which there is no vaccine, is prevention by improving personal hygyen behaviour.

(AP) (26/5/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:23; Parole:281)