Prevalence of syphilis in Burma; analysis of serological data accumulated by the World Health Organization V.D. control team, 1951-52.

Late in 1951, at the request of the Government, the World Health Organization assigned a venereal disease control team to Burma. The team's mission was to extend, within all practicable limits, diagnostic, epidemiologic, and therapeutic activities throughout the Union of Burma. Personnel involved were Anne C. Kimball, serologist (American), Muriel R. Scott, public health nurse (Canadian), and the writer, in the capacities of clinician and administrator. Our role was to work closely with counterpart personnel within the Burmese Government's medical and health services, specifically Dr. Ahad, Director, Pasteur Institute, and Dr. U Thein Maung, Chief of the V.D. Clinic, Rangoon General Hospital, and their associates. One of the first objectives agreed upon was to survey accessible groups serologically in order to define the magnitude and distribution of the problem. It was our rationale that population samples with the highest prevalences of sero-positivity should later be given priority as facilities for penicillin syphilotherapy were expanded. At the outset it was found that, because of the widespread civil unrest which then prevailed, our sampling activities would have to be limited to urban areas on regularly scheduled air routes, and to the environs of Rangoon. It was determined that several such areas were the site of prisons. Through the interest of U Maung Gale, Director of Medical and Health Services, and the enthusiastic cooperation of U Ba Thein, Inspector-General of Prisons, and his entire staff, we were given access to a number of prison populations in Upper and Lower Burma. In the Rangoon area there were numerous clinical facilities concerned with general medical and surgical care (as opposed to those devoted to venereal disease management). Routine admission and prenatal serological examinations were encouraged in these.