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The epidemiology of malaria and filariasis in the Ok Tedi region of Papua New Guinea
367 Most chapters are well illustrated with good quality black-and-white photographs and maps or body diagrams referring to disease distribution. Key summary statements located in the margins make the book a pleasure to read. In addition, a good number of colour plates of typical clinical caseshave greatly enhanced its practical value. The book is well presented in a hardback bound volume. The author is to be congratulated on his aim to produce a book with emnhasis on clinical diagnosis intended primarily for physicians, medical students and health workers in developing countries where there is no access to sophisticated laboratories or other diagnostic procedures. The aim is readily achieved with a clear, concise, and well-structured text. There is also a comprehensive and accurate index. The book is not designed to cover the subject exhaustively, but it provides the necessaryinformation for its intended readership. Physicians in temperate climates will also be very pleased with this new edition as, more often, they are dealing with exotic dermatosesas a result of ever increasing international travel and immigration. There are a few spelling mistakes which could perhaps have been eliminated by more ruthless editing. However, it is undoubtedly good value for money. W. S. Robles Department ofMedical Mycology StJohn’s Institute of Dermatology St Thomas’s Hospital Lambeth Palace Road London, SE1 7EH, UK The Epidemiology of Malaria and Filariasis in the Ok Tedi region of Papua New Guinea, 2nd printing (with
minor corrections). G. J. T. Schuurkamp. Tabubil, Papua New Guinea: Ok Tedi Mining Limited, 1993. xivS341pp. Price not stated [see below]. ISBN 99809997-o-s. This superbly produced and illustrated text represents the published version (surely one of the most sumptuous ever produced) of the author’s PhD thesis in Community Health which was accepted by the University of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1993). The author’s primary sources of inspiration were: P. C. C. Garnham’s Malaria Parasites and Other Haemosporidia (1966) and W. Peters’s Chemotherapy and Drug Resistance in Malaria (1970); other mentors were G. Nurse, University of PNG, and I’. Spicer, Chief Medical Officer of Ok Tedi Mining Ltd-the major sponsor for the work here described. The Ok Tedi Mining project was launched in 1981in the remote northern-most corner of the Western Province (situated on the Irian Jaya border) of PNG, an area hyperendemic for both Plasmodium falciparum infection and lymphatic filariasis. Within 3 years of the introduction of control strategies the overall ‘malaria parasitaemia’ rate had been reduced from 70% to
cant reduction in microlilaraemia and splenomegaly was demonstrated. The author concludes that the Ok Tedi project has established that classical malaria control measures remain effective in PNG-provided they are properly implemented and adequately supervised. The book consists of 12 chapters and a 17-pagebibliography. Following an historical introduction, there are chapters on epidemiology, field and laboratory techniques, ‘passive case detection’ and village-based surveys; the next 2 are devoted to 4-aminoquinoline resistance in P. falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. Lymphatic filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti) dominates chapter 8, and the concluding chapter (which summarizes the specific health programmes initiated in the Ok Tedi area)is preceded by others on an immunological (serological) study of the local population and protective genetic factors, and a literature review and discussion. The reader is thus presented with a wealth of data collected in this limited, and relatively little known, area of PNG. As a monograph the book is exemplary, the standard of presentation, including Tables and photographs, being exceedingly high. Ok Tedi Mining Ltd is offering complimentary copies to Fellows of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, together with researchers, universities! and libraries; the book is available free (by first classairmail in the Australasian region, and seamail to all other international destinations). What an incredible offer! [Requests should be addressedto Ok Tedi Public Health, Ok Tedi Mining Ltd, P.O. Box 1, Tabubil, Western Province, Papua New Guinea. The book will be airmailed to destinations outside Australia on payment of US $30 by International Bank Draft to Ok Tedi Public Health.] G. C. Cook Hospital for Tropical Diseases London, UK Studies on the Natural History of Yellow fever in Trinidad. E. S. Tikasingh (editor). Trinidad: Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), 1991. xii+170 pp. Price
US$12. ISBN 976-8001-91-7. This book contains 21 papers on a range of aspectsof yellow fever in Trinidad. The location of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) in Trinidad has been an important factor contributing to long-term studies of the disease.Historically, yellow fever in Trinidad goes back a long way. The first suspectedoutbreak there took place in 1739. Thereafter, outbreaks were a regular feature. The late Wilbur Downs briefly reviews the history of yellow fever in Trinidad and draws attention to the comments of Charles Kingsley associating monkey mortality and yellow fever outbreaks. He also comments on Balfour’s paper of 1914 which raised the possibility that monkeys might constitute a natural reservoir for the causative organism of yellow fever. The 3 major sections in the book deal with the outbreaks of yellow fever occurring between 1978 and 1980, the period 1980-1988, between the epidemiciepizootic years, and the 1988-1989 epizootic. In the first outbreak documented in the book there were 18 human cases.The diagnosis of the infection in humans, red howler monkeys and Haemagogus mosquitoes is discussed. The major contributions relate to studies in Haemagogus mosquitoes and red howler monkeys. In the second epizootic, disease was confined to the monkeys with no human case occurring. Details of vaccination programmesand the control of urban vectors are presented. In the years between these outbreaks there was fairly intensive activity trying to identify the yellow fever virus in mosquito populations and undertaking surveillance of the red howler monkeys. No evidence of the virus was found in either animal group. During the second episode of infection described. diseasewas confined to the monkeys.
minor corrections). G. J. T. Schuurkamp. Tabubil, Papua New Guinea: Ok Tedi Mining Limited, 1993. xivS341pp. Price not stated [see below]. ISBN 99809997-o-s. This superbly produced and illustrated text represents the published version (surely one of the most sumptuous ever produced) of the author’s PhD thesis in Community Health which was accepted by the University of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1993). The author’s primary sources of inspiration were: P. C. C. Garnham’s Malaria Parasites and Other Haemosporidia (1966) and W. Peters’s Chemotherapy and Drug Resistance in Malaria (1970); other mentors were G. Nurse, University of PNG, and I’. Spicer, Chief Medical Officer of Ok Tedi Mining Ltd-the major sponsor for the work here described. The Ok Tedi Mining project was launched in 1981in the remote northern-most corner of the Western Province (situated on the Irian Jaya border) of PNG, an area hyperendemic for both Plasmodium falciparum infection and lymphatic filariasis. Within 3 years of the introduction of control strategies the overall ‘malaria parasitaemia’ rate had been reduced from 70% to
cant reduction in microlilaraemia and splenomegaly was demonstrated. The author concludes that the Ok Tedi project has established that classical malaria control measures remain effective in PNG-provided they are properly implemented and adequately supervised. The book consists of 12 chapters and a 17-pagebibliography. Following an historical introduction, there are chapters on epidemiology, field and laboratory techniques, ‘passive case detection’ and village-based surveys; the next 2 are devoted to 4-aminoquinoline resistance in P. falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. Lymphatic filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti) dominates chapter 8, and the concluding chapter (which summarizes the specific health programmes initiated in the Ok Tedi area)is preceded by others on an immunological (serological) study of the local population and protective genetic factors, and a literature review and discussion. The reader is thus presented with a wealth of data collected in this limited, and relatively little known, area of PNG. As a monograph the book is exemplary, the standard of presentation, including Tables and photographs, being exceedingly high. Ok Tedi Mining Ltd is offering complimentary copies to Fellows of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, together with researchers, universities! and libraries; the book is available free (by first classairmail in the Australasian region, and seamail to all other international destinations). What an incredible offer! [Requests should be addressedto Ok Tedi Public Health, Ok Tedi Mining Ltd, P.O. Box 1, Tabubil, Western Province, Papua New Guinea. The book will be airmailed to destinations outside Australia on payment of US $30 by International Bank Draft to Ok Tedi Public Health.] G. C. Cook Hospital for Tropical Diseases London, UK Studies on the Natural History of Yellow fever in Trinidad. E. S. Tikasingh (editor). Trinidad: Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), 1991. xii+170 pp. Price
US$12. ISBN 976-8001-91-7. This book contains 21 papers on a range of aspectsof yellow fever in Trinidad. The location of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) in Trinidad has been an important factor contributing to long-term studies of the disease.Historically, yellow fever in Trinidad goes back a long way. The first suspectedoutbreak there took place in 1739. Thereafter, outbreaks were a regular feature. The late Wilbur Downs briefly reviews the history of yellow fever in Trinidad and draws attention to the comments of Charles Kingsley associating monkey mortality and yellow fever outbreaks. He also comments on Balfour’s paper of 1914 which raised the possibility that monkeys might constitute a natural reservoir for the causative organism of yellow fever. The 3 major sections in the book deal with the outbreaks of yellow fever occurring between 1978 and 1980, the period 1980-1988, between the epidemiciepizootic years, and the 1988-1989 epizootic. In the first outbreak documented in the book there were 18 human cases.The diagnosis of the infection in humans, red howler monkeys and Haemagogus mosquitoes is discussed. The major contributions relate to studies in Haemagogus mosquitoes and red howler monkeys. In the second epizootic, disease was confined to the monkeys with no human case occurring. Details of vaccination programmesand the control of urban vectors are presented. In the years between these outbreaks there was fairly intensive activity trying to identify the yellow fever virus in mosquito populations and undertaking surveillance of the red howler monkeys. No evidence of the virus was found in either animal group. During the second episode of infection described. diseasewas confined to the monkeys.