Uganda General Health Risks: Schistosomiasis

Infection is transmitted by snails living in fresh water such as lakes, rivers, streams and ponds in Africa, and some countries in Southeast Asia, South America, and the Caribbean.

Schistosomiasis risk is present in the whole country, including urban areas:

S. haematobium and S. mansoni are endemic in Uganda. The highest incidence rates are reported from the shores of Lake Albert, the Albert Nile (White Nile) River, Lake Kyoga, and the eastern shores of Lake Victoria. Cases are reported from Lake Nyinambuga (Kabarole District). Additional intermediate snail hosts: Bulinus nasutus for S. haematobium and Biomphalaria choanomphala for S. mansoni.

Risk of Schistosomiasis caused by: Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni

The main intermediate host snail is: Bulinus globosus, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Biomphalaria sudanica, see text above for additional intermediate snail host.