PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF SINGLE AND MIXED SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI AND SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM INFECTIONS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN RACHUONYO NORTH DISTRICT, HOMABAY COUNTY, WESTERN KENYA.

Abstract

This is the first report in which both S.haematobium and S.mansoni are found together in the same geographic locality in high prevalence in the Lake Victoria region of western Kenya, with S. haematobium being the most predominant in some places. Rachuonyo North District becomes a new focus of mixed human schistosome infections in Kenya. The significant burden of schistosomiasis in this area highlights the need to include regular treatment for schistosomiasis in the national school based deworming programme especially now that the infection occurs in areas more than five kilometres away from the lake.