Cape Verde Health Warning: Schistosomiasis in São Miguel
Cape Verde’s National Water and Sanitation Agency (ANAS) has issued an urgent call for control and disinfection measures following the discovery of new cases of schistosomiasis in the municipality of São Miguel. The outbreak, centered in the Ribeira de Principal area of Santiago Island’s interior, has triggered a coordinated response across health, environmental, and agricultural sectors.
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by larvae released by freshwater snails. The parasite enters the human body through the skin during contact with contaminated water. While often treatable, it remains a significant public health concern globally.
Immediate Measures to Contain the Outbreak
In response to the new cases, ANAS has recommended strict protocols to prevent further transmission. These steps include restricting public access to the affected reservoir, conducting a controlled emptying of water infrastructure, and removing host snails. Following the cleaning process, technical teams will oversee a full-scale disinfection of the area.
“As the regulatory body for the water and sanitation sector, we are closely monitoring the situation,” the agency stated in a press release, emphasizing that all actions must be part of a unified plan between local and national entities.
Health Officials Launch Intensive Screening
Antonieta Fonseca, the health delegate for São Miguel, confirmed that multisectoral teams are already on the ground in Ribeira de Principal. Health workers are conducting urine tests on local children—the group most at risk—and screening adults who show suspicious symptoms. These efforts aim to ensure early diagnosis and immediate treatment for those infected.
Recent investigations by the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) have already identified snails of the genus Bulinus in several water sources. These snails are known hosts for the parasite, and laboratory studies are ongoing to confirm the presence of infectious larvae.
A Recurring Challenge
This is not the first time São Miguel has battled the parasite. The municipality recorded its first outbreak in 2022, involving approximately 200 cases. That outbreak primarily affected children and adolescents between the ages of 4 and 16. During that period, Cape Verdean health authorities worked alongside the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the Nova University of Lisbon to manage the crisis.
While the exact origin of this latest focus remains unknown, scientist Maximiano Fernandes recently confirmed the existence of this new outbreak, prompting the current surge in epidemiological surveillance and public awareness campaigns. Authorities are urging residents to avoid contact with any potentially contaminated freshwater sources until the disinfection process is complete.
Image: Pexels – Thomas Schwaak
