Burkitt, Denis P

Burkitt, Denis P(arsons)

(born Feb. 28, 1911, Enniskillen, N.Ire.—died March 23, 1993, England) British surgeon and medical researcher. He discovered Burkitt lymphoma, a lethal cancer of the lymphatic system with a high incidence among children. He showed that it was common in equatorial African regions where malaria and yellow fever are endemic and linked it to Epstein-Barr virus in children with immune systems depressed by chronic malaria. He later helped develop an effective chemotherapy treatment. Burkitt was also known for his theory that a high-fibre diet protects against colon cancer, publicized in his book Don't Forget Fibre in Your Diet (1979).