Dr. D. Burkitt's family with Department staff
Dr. Denis Parsons Burkitt (1911–1993) was an Irish surgeon whose groundbreaking work in Africa led to one of the most important discoveries in medical history — Burkitt’s lymphoma, the first human cancer proven to be linked to a virus.
While serving at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, during the 1950s, Dr. Burkitt observed a pattern of childhood cancers involving tumors of the jaw and abdomen. His curiosity and scientific precision drove him to map these cases across equatorial Africa. The resulting pattern revealed that the disease occurred most frequently in tropical regions with high rainfall and malaria transmission.
In 1958, he published his first report on the condition, which soon became known as Burkitt’s lymphoma. Later research connected it to the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), making it the first cancer found to have a viral cause — a landmark in understanding the relationship between infection and cancer.
Dr. Burkitt’s discovery transformed cancer epidemiology and inspired new global approaches to research and prevention. His work remains a testament to the power of observation, mapping, and curiosity in uncovering the causes of disease.
The Burkitt family was in Kenya, represented by his daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons, and members of the Department, including Dr. Fatuma Abdalla (former staff), Dr. Wairimu Waweru, Prof. Lucy Muchiri, and Prof. Emily Rogena (former staff), were fortunate to meet the family.
- Log in to post comments