Hydatid disease is endemic in California

Hydatid disease, a parasitic infection of global importance and a condition for which there is no known medical treatment, is established endemically in the Central Valley of California. Only further study will reveal whether or not the infection is now spreading or intensifying or is remaining fairly stable at a relatively low level of endemicity. California physicians should be aware of its presence and the fact that in most sheep-raising areas of the world it constitutes a problem of major medical and public health importance. Although a number of national or regional programs for hydatid disease control have been undertaken, clear progress has been evident only in Iceland, in New Zealand and in the Australian state of Tasmania.(2,4,5)