Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm) eradication (GWE)

Dracunculiasis is a crippling parasitic disease caused by Dracunculus medinensis (guinea worm), a long thread-like worm. The disease is transmitted exclusively by drinking contaminated water.

Entering the body through contaminated water sources, the parasite migrates through the victim's body causing severe pain around joint areas; it eventually emerges (from the feet in 90% of the cases) as a fully developed worm, causing an intensely painful wound accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting.

Although rarely fatal, dracunculiasis continues to be a major public health problem causing dreadful suffering and disability among many rural communities in Africa dependant upon unprotected water sources for drinking and farming. It was until recently ranked among the most neglected diseases of mankind. No drugs are currently available to prevent or heal this parasitic disease. However, it is easy to combat and should no longer be prevalent, because of the easy and unambiguous diagnosis, and immobile transmission agent. Dracunculiasis is the first parasitic disease in history set for eradication through behavioural change, without the use of vaccines or a cure.

From 1989 to 2007, the annual incidence of Dracunculiasis in the African Region decreased from 883,640 cases in 25,789 villages to 3 700 cases in 251 endemic villages. As of the end of 2008, 28 countries have been certified free of dracunculiasis local transmission and 8 countries are at pre-certification stage. The number of endemic countries has decreased from sixteen to just five.

The main thrust of the eradication strategy is improved surveillance of cases, backed-up by the promotion of activities and practices to interrupt transmission of the disease. The target date for Guinea Worm Eradication was the year 2005.

The focal person for Guinea worm control within the regional programme for the control of neglected diseases is Dr Maiga Dr Alhousseini: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it