Schistosomiasis in U.S. Peace Corps volunteers--Malawi, 1992.

Schistosomiasis (i.e., "snail fever" or "bilharzia") is a parasitic infection caused by trematodes (flukes) and is endemic in 74 countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, and Asia. U.S. residents who work or travel in these countries may be at risk for schistosomiasis. During 1992, two U.S. Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) were evacuated from Africa because of Schistosoma hematobium infection of the central nervous system (CNS). Both were exposed to fresh water while vacationing at Cape Maclear, a popular resort area on Lake Malawi (Figure 1), in December 1991. This report summarizes the investigation of these two cases and a follow-up investigation of expatriates residing in Malawi.