How water hyacinth spreads bilharzia in Lake Victoria region

What you need to know:

The weed, first reported at the lake in the late 1990s, has crippled business at the lake and the Kisumu port.
The water hyacinth is said to be an ideal habitat for snails that carry the bilharzia causing parasite.
Bilharzia is a parasitic disease that attacks human liver, lungs and eyes

Invasion of the water hyacinth on Lake Victoria is posing another problem for fishermen.

After choking fishing activities in the lake, the invasive weed is now putting fishermen at risk of contracting bilharzia as they uproot it manually without protective gear.

“We are struggling to ensure that no weed is seen on top of any cage by manually removing them but they multiply very fast, making it difficult to remove them all in a day,” said Ken Omondi, a representative of fishermen in the area.

He added that the weed had resulted in loss of livelihood source that supports thousands of households in the lake region.

The fishermen also expressed fears the situation might get worse if nothing is done. The weed, which was first reported at the lake in the late 1990s, has crippled business at the lake and the Kisumu port.

“Under favourable conditions the population of water hyacinth doubles daily. If completely undisturbed it can be dangerous for us who depend on the lake for survival,” said Mr Omondi.

Bilharzia is a parasitic disease that attacks human liver, lungs and eyes. And the water hyacinth is said to be an ideal habitat for snails that carry the bilharzia causing parasite.

Dr Elizabeth Ogaja, the Kisumu County executive for Health, says bilharzia cases are rising.

“We know that the weed has really affected them but they should take precaution of wearing gloves and water proof clothes when getting into the water,” said Dr Ogaja.

She said most of the fishermen are infected when they get into the lake either to remove the hyacinth, swim, fish or wash clothes.

Pauline Mwinzi, principal scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, said majority of people living around the lake have been infected, depending on the levels of exposure.

“Bilharzia is really a major problem largely because many people are not aware of the disease and therefore do not seek precaution,” she said, adding that treatment against the disease is readily available.

Hot weather

Dr Mwinzi said the worst hit include fishermen, hotel and car wash operators along the shores of the lake.

Bilharzia, alongside cholera, pneumonia, diarrhoea and skin infections, are among the diseases that afflict communities living around Lake Victoria, she said.

Environmentalists say the problem of the invasive weed is bound to get worse and warn of a possible increase in the level of water hyacinth on the lake even as counties in the Lake Victoria region plan to eradicate it.

The Kenya Maritime Authority says the weed risks multiplying due to the sunny and dry weather. Boaz Ogolla, a maritime officer, said the weed needs hot weather to flourish.

“Matters have also been complicated by the lack of strong waves allowing the hyacinth to sprout on still waters,” he said.