HealthJuly 31, 2026
bilharzia
bil-HAR-zee-uh
Definition
A parasitic disease caused by blood flukes, also known as schistosomiasis, which typically affects people in tropical and subtropical regions.
Etymology
The term is named after Theodor Bilharz, a German physician who discovered the parasite in Egypt in 1851. It entered medical terminology as a direct eponym to honor his research findings regarding the disease's cause.
In the news
The article mentions that Egypt is nearing an official declaration of being free from bilharzia, marking a significant public health achievement in eliminating a long-standing endemic disease.
Egypt highlights health reform gains, calls for stronger global cooperation against rising health threats
Read the full article ↗Egypt Today