The prevalence of parasitic infections is high among low-income communities in such tropical countries as Kenya, Joyce Onsongo, the country's Deputy Director of Medical Services, told workshop participants in Nairobi recently. Speaking at the closing of an international workshop on control of parasitic diseases in eastern and southern Africa at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri), Onsongo said that the infections not only have a serious impact on human health, but are also a hindrance to economic growth and development.