Until efforts to establish even minimum sanitary conditions in base camp were 

 successful--regretfully, five months into the program--there were usually a 

 few cases of dysentery each day. We were just fortunate that they were mild. 



Parasites : 



Because of the logistic obstacles involved, routine screening for parasites 

 was restricted to kitchen personnel (all rej^ults negative). Given the 

 conditions in base camp, it is surprising that a greater number of parasitic 

 infestations did not manifest themselves. Four persons did present sjrmptoms, 

 however, which were diagnosed as the following: 



1. Hookwork (Necator americanus); two cases 



2. Amebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica) (probably contracted on 

 the mainland); one case 



3. Tapework (Taenia saginata) (probably contracted in Germany); 

 one case 



4. Giardiasis (Giardia lamblia); one case 



All cases were successfully treated. 



Problems of sanitation and hygiene : 



The struggle against infectious disease in base camp was magnified 

 unnecessarily by general conditions in the base camp. For example, the septic 

 tanks were positioned a mere 10 feet behind the kitchen. The sewage system 

 having been designed for fewer people was wholly inadequate for the 70 or 80 

 people who occupied the camp in its heyday. 



Potable water had to be hauled by truck to the base camp, a task rendered 

 impossible when the rains came (which they did in prodigious amounts, throughout 

 the project). The water supply was otherwise dependent upon the cooperation of 

 the ADVANCE II. Clorox bleach, in quantities to maintain a residual of 0.2 ppm 

 of free chlorine, was added daily to the drinking water. But because the water 

 supply was stored in steel tanks that were not rust-proofed internally, it was 

 difficult to retain the chlorine residual. And the water's palatability was 

 poor. 



Because of the National Park Service regulations concerning the use of pesticides, 

 the control of flies in the kitchen and mess hall remained totally ineffective 

 for most of the program. So also was the control of mosquitoes and sand flies 

 in and about the shower and toilet areas, where they multiplied with almost 

 unrestricted abandon. The permissable insecticides protected not only the 

 ecology in general but also the insects. 



The kitchen was inadequate with respect to storage and preparation of food and 

 the washing of dishes. Subsequent improvements provided by the Department of 

 the Interior remedied some of the problems. 



IX-13 



