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Schistosomiasis is a widely prevalent and highly harmful infectious disease. Anyone infected with it will exhibit symptoms such as fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, coughing, and wheezing.
Its highly contagious, primarily transmitted through water. If people drink water contaminated with schistosos or co into contact with the skin, they are at risk of infection. Even if feces are expelled from the body, it can still infect other livestock. When people consu infected livestock, they can get reinfected, which is very troubleso.
If this is indeed schistosomiasis, it indicates that there might be a problem with the local river water. If not dealt with promptly, it could lead to hundreds of thousands or even millions of people getting infected, causing severe consequences.
When Lin Beifan approached the patients, he sternly asked, I have questions for you. This matter concerns your illness and the safety of the citys residents. You must answer truthfully!
Who are you the weakened patient asked.
The local magistrate imdiately stepped forward to introduce, Dont be impolite! This is the current Pri Minister of the imperial court, the Supre Commander of the Army, His Royal Highness, King Loyalty and Valor! Whatever questions he asks, you must answer truthfully, without concealing anything!
Everyone present was astonished. This young man before them was the Pri Minister of the current dynasty?
They hurriedly and nervously bowed, saying, The humble ones pay respects to Pri Minister!
Lin Beifan waved his hand and said, You are unwell, theres no need for formalities. What I ask next, you must answer honestly!
Yes, Your Highness, we will answer truthfully, the patients weakly replied.
Lin Beifan then asked, What kind of work do you do?
Reporting to Your Highness, we are local farrs, making a living by farming.
Reporting to Your Highness, we are farrs as well.
Lin Beifan continued, Where do you usually get your drinking water from?
Truthfully, Your Highness, we fetch our water from the Jinsha River!
Yes, its the Jinsha River!
The Empress and those around her were perplexed, but they didnt interrupt. After a round of questioning, Lin Beifan was nearly certain that they had contracted schistosomiasis. Their occupations varied, but they lived in close proximity to the Jinsha River. There was a deep pool there, which they called the Jade Dragon Pool, and they fetched water from it. Since there hadnt been any issues in the past, and the river water appeared clear, they hadnt suspected anything.
The Empress observed and asked, Sir Lin, have you found the source?
Your Majesty, Im not entirely sure. We need to investigate the Jade Dragon Pool!
Very well, I will accompany you!
Lin Beifan and the others soon arrived at the Jade Dragon Pool.
The river water here was indeed very clear, and one could see the riverbed from above. So fish swam leisurely in the river. Lin Beifans gaze was sharp, and he found what he was looking for in the Jade Dragon Pool.
Nail snails!
Nail snails are interdiate hosts for schistosos. Where there are nail snails, there are usually schistosos.
Finding nail snails was enough to confirm that the villagers in Embroidery Village had schistosomiasis.
Bring so soil from the Jade Dragon Pool for ! Lin Beifan ordered.
Yes, Your Highness! Two officials imdiately took off their clothes and went into the river, digging up the soil from the pool and piling it on the riverbank. Lin Beifan picked up a piece of wood and extracted the nail snails from the soil.
Throughout the process, the Empress was puzzled. She asked, Pri Minister, what are you doing? Have you discovered sothing? Can you please explain?
Your Majesty, they have indeed contracted the Gu Worm disease! Lin Beifan said with a serious expression.
The parasite disease? The Empress furrowed her brow, her expression growing solemn. She had learned from those doctors earlier that the Gu Worm disease was a prevalent illness in the Southern Jiang region, usually occurring in the sumr and autumn seasons.
Every ti the epidemic occurs, tens of thousands of people get infected. After being infected, those with mild symptoms experience headaches, diarrhea, coughing, and shortness of breath, while severe cases result in swollen bellies as if pregnant, but you beco as thin as a skeleton and often vomit blood.
As long as you contract the disease, it greatly affects your ability to work, and its very difficult to treat. Is what youre saying true, Your Majesty? the empress asked.
Lin Beifan nodded earnestly. Its absolutely true! However, I would prefer to call it schistosomiasis.
Schistosomiasis? What a strange na the empress furrowed her brow again.
The reason its called schistosomiasis is because its caused by blood flukes! These blood flukes are the parasites ntioned by doctors, a very tiny and enormously harmful creature!
They enter through any opening, preferentially inhabiting the bodies of humans and dostic animals. By feeding on blood, they grow and multiply in the organs, hence the na! The empress nodded in understanding. I see! So, Pri Minister, does killing these parasites cure the disease?
In theory, yes, but its extrely challenging to implent!
Lin Beifan sighed. Your Majesty, do you know that doctors have long recognized this disease and know how to treat it? But why is it still so widespread and recurring?
The empress asked in confusion, Pri Minister, why?
Lin Beifan pointed to the nearby river and said, Because people cannot survive without drinking water, and our main source of water cos from the surrounding rivers, where these parasites reside. Your Majesty, do you understand their danger?
The empresss expression changed. People cannot survive without drinking water, but if they drink water from the rivers, they might get infected.
If you dont drink water, youll die in a few days.
If you drink water, although you may get sick, it could be months or even years before you die.
So, I ask you, will you drink or not?
The Pri Ministers words are correct; this disease is indeed difficult. Even if we cure the patients, they will still get infected because the water is contaminated. Unless they stop drinking water entirely, but how is that possible? The chief physician beside them sighed. Yes, this disease is truly stubborn. I once cured soone, but within a month, they relapsed because they had to drink water and ingested the parasites. Its truly frustrating!
In the end, those patients will all succumb to the disease, theres no way around it!
Even if they survive, they will suffer!
So people dont even get infected through water! This disease is truly insidious, and its challenging to prevent.
Everyone shook their heads in despair.
The Empress also found herself in a difficult situation; this disease was truly hard to treat. If they didnt handle it properly, it could beco an epidemic, causing suffering for hundreds of thousands of people. Finally, the Empress turned to Lin Beifan, who often brought her hope. Pri Minister Lin, you speak with wisdom, and its evident you understand this disease well. Do you have a solution?
Of course, theres a solution! Lin Beifan raised a reassuring finger. The Empress perked up, Pri Minister, please share!
Lin Beifan smiled and said, This disease is caused by schistosomiasis, and the parasites always have a source. So, all we need to do is eliminate the source, which will reduce the disease and prevent its spread.
The Pri Minister is correct, but where is this source of parasites? We cant seem to find it!
Yes, those parasites are so tiny, not visible to the naked eye. How can we find them?
If we cant find them, we cant eradicate the disease!
Lin Beifan pointed to the snails at their feet and said, The source of the parasites is right here!
The riverbank? Everyone looked puzzled.
Thats right, the harmful schistosos usually inhabit this type of snail. Because it looks like a nail, I call it the nail snail. So, as long as we find the nail snail and eliminate it, we can reduce schistosomiasis and prevent its spread!
Its fortunate we discovered this in ti. If we waited for the sumr and fall seasons, the snails and schistosos would have multiplied further, causing even greater harm and making it more difficult to deal with.
People blinked in astonishnt.
Although Lin Beifans explanation seed far-fetched, they couldnt help but believe it. The insects that had caused so much suffering were actually harbored in these tiny nail snails.
At this mont, a villager who knew the area well couldnt help but speak up, Pri Minister, this may sound like a tall tale, but its true! I often swim here, and Im very familiar with the waters. I rember there werent these snails before. They only appeared recently, and our village beca infected. So, its very likely that these nail snails are the cause of our illness!
Finally, so trust erged. The Empress fell silent for a mont and said, Minister Lin, since you seem to understand this disease so well, I entrust this matter to you. If successful, we can implent it in Southern Jiang and even nationwide, preventing people from suffering from these parasites.
I will do my best!
Lin Beifan imdiately issued orders, Starting today, send people to search for nail snails along the riverbank. Once found, collect the nail snails along with the surrounding mud and burn them.
Yes, Pri Minister! Ill instruct my subordinates to do so imdiately, the local magistrate responded promptly.
Lin Beifan continued, Until the river is thoroughly inspected twice, no one is allowed near it, especially the waters of the Jade Dragon Pond.
But Pri Minister, how can people do without water? We all need to drink!
The situation is urgent, and this is the only way to handle it for now. As for the water problem, you can still drink, but boil the water first and let everyone drink it. This will reduce the blood parasites in the water and minimize the risk of disease.
On this matter, our court bears a heavy responsibility. After we completely deal with the nail snails here, we can reopen the river.
Yes, Pri Minister, I understand what to do.
Lin Beifan then issued several more detailed orders, showing his expertise. The Empress and the surrounding doctors were left in astonishnt. This guy was incredibly knowledgeable. Who was the real doctor here?
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