Bilharzia: war against the worm

If I were asked to make a brief documentary about schistosomiasis, I would select the following snapshots. Children swimming in an infested canal, a local doctor talking with some patients who are obviously anxious after discovering blood in their urine or stool. Patients walking around with hugely distended abdomens because of splenomegaly and ascites. The tempo is now mounting as we see the same patients starting to vomit blood; an experience they never forget--if they are lucky enough to survive it. Finally a split screen with a terminal patient on one side and two nasty worms embracing each other and staring defiantly at the audience on the other, while the word “bilharzia” flashes on the screen.