El Niño and associated outbreaks of severe malaria in highland populations in Irian Jaya, Indonesia: a review and epidemiological perspective.

Perennial malaria is a major public health problem for most coastal, lowland and foothill populations in Irian Jaya (western New Guinea), the largest and easternmost province of Indonesia. Malaria at higher elevations above 1,500 m is considered intermittent and highly unstable, providing a constant threat of epidemics. Beginning in late August 1997, a significant increase of unexplained deaths was reported from the central highland district of Jayawijaya.

Malaria transmission by Anopheles punctulatus in the highlands of Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

A 21-month (1991-1992) assessment of malaria and the relative contribution of Anopheles punctulatus and An. koliensis to its transmission was conducted in Oksibil, a highland community in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Nearly all (98%) of the 2577 Anopheles from indoor or outdoor human-landing collections were An.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibody to cysticerci of Taenia solium.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibody to cysticerci of Taenia solium has been developed that employs a pork muscle antigen control for the cysticercus test antigen, somewhat improving the serological distinction between infected and uninfected subjects. Serum antibody to cysticercus was detected in 79% of classical neurocysticercosis patients from Mexico, and in 61% of a group of cysticercosis patients with an unusually rapid invasion of the central nervous system in an endemic focus of disease in Irian Jaya. Antibody was absent in a group of healthy American laboratory personnel, and in residents of a non-endemic region of Papua New Guinea.

ELISA antibodies to cysticerci of Taenia solium in human populations in New Guinea, Oceania, and Southeast Asia.

The presence of ELISA antibodies to cysticerci of Taenia solium was surveyed in populations of New Guinea, Micronesia, and several areas of Southeast Asia. It is confirmed that cysticercosis in New Guinea remains limited to the primary Wissel Lakes focus in Irian Jaya, where the disease was introduced by the importation of infected pigs, and that it has not spread to populations east or south of the Wissel Lakes, or to Papua New Guinea. On the island of Bali, Indonesia, 21% of sera were positive from one village where pigs are especially numerous, whereas in Sumatra, Indonesia, only 3%-4% of sera were positive.

Cysticercosis cerebri in Irian Jaya. A case report.

A case is presented in which epilepsy was caused by diffuse involvement of cysticerci in the cortical layer of both cerebral hemispheres. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. In the area of Irian Jaya cerebral cysticercosis should always be taken into consideration as the possible cause of epilepsy.

Burns and epileptic fits associated with cysticercosis in mountain people of Irian Jaya.

The number of patients with burns, admitted to the hospital in Enarotali, Central highlands of Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia, markedly increased during the last years. Before 1973 only a few cases were hospitalized whereas from 1973 to 1976 157 cases were admitted. Most of the burns (74.