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Eradication of dracunculiasis
Eradication of dracunculiasis is an ongoing program. Dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, is an infection by the Guinea worm that causes severe pain and open wounds when guinea worms exit the body through the skin.[1] In 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases of Guinea worm in 20 endemic nations in Asia and Africa.[2] The number of cases has since been reduced by more than 99.999% to 14 in 2023[3][4] with only six countries remaining: South Sudan, Chad, Mali, Ethiopia, Angola, and Central African Republic.
The campaign has been spearheaded by the Carter Center and other members of the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases, with former U.S. president Jimmy Carter as part of its deworming programs, designed to eliminate neglected tropical diseases. Discussing his diagnosis of melanoma (which had metastasized to his brain), Carter said his last wish was to see the last Guinea worm dead before he was.[5]
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the international body that certifies whether a disease has been eliminated from a country or eradicated from the world.[6] The Carter Center also reports the status of the Guinea worm eradication program by country.[7]
As of 2024, the WHO goal for eradication in humans and animals is the year 2030. Previously, 1991, 2009, 2015, and 2020 were set as target years,[8] but full eradication of dracunculiasis has proven to be much more difficult than originally thought, after the discovery of non-human animal hosts. [9][10][11]
- ^ "Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) Fact sheet N°359 (Revised)". World Health Organization. March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ "Guinea Worm Eradication Program". Carter Center. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
- ^ "Guinea Worm Wrap-Up #306" (PDF). The Carter Center. 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ^ "Update: 14 Human Cases of Guinea Worm Reported in 2023 – 13 Human Cases of Guinea Worm Reported in 2023 – Remaining at the Lowest Level Since the Eradication Campaign Began". Carter Center. 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
- ^ VOX (20 August 2015). "President Jimmy Carter's Amazing Last Wish". Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
- ^ "WHO certifies seven more countries as free of guinea-worm disease". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 2010-05-19. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
- ^ "Activities by Country – Guinea Worm Eradication Program". Carter Center. Archived from the original on 2009-05-19. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
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