Guinea worm disease

29 Oct 2024 12:17:27 pm

Tags : Guinea worm disease

Topic: Diseases

Why in the news?

Chad, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners renewed their commitment to eradicating Guinea-worm disease, also known as Dracunculiasis, during a high-level meeting in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital.

Source: WHO website

About Guinea worm disease:

It is also known as Dracunculiasis.
It is caused by the Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis), a parasitic nematode.
The parasite is transmitted when people drink stagnant surace water contaminated with parasite-infected water fleas.
The disease manifests with painful skin lesions as the worm emerges, causing weeks of intense pain, swelling, and secondary infections.
More than 90% of infections occur in the legs and feet, affecting individuals\' mobility and ability to work or perform daily tasks.
There is no vaccine or medication to treat Guinea worm disease, but prevention strategies have been successful.
- Strategies include heightened surveillance, preventing transmission from each worm through treatment and wound care, filtering water before drinking, larvicide use, and health education.
Since 1995, WHO has certified 199 countries, territories, and areas as free of dracunculiasis transmission.
The government of India received Guinea worm disease-free certification status from the WHO in 2000.