Guinea Worm (Dracunculiasis)

Guinea Worm (Dracunculiasis) is a parasitic disease that grows in the body for 10-14 months. It is on the verge of being eliminated. In 2011, there was an estimated 1100 cases of the disease. Most of the cases were in South Sudan(97%). Cases have been reported in Chad, Ethiopia, and Mali. Guinea Worm is contracted by drinking infected water with microscopic fleas carrying the guinea worm larvae. The larvae grows inside the body as long as 3 ft. and takes 10-14 months to mature. It exits through blisters in the skin, which is debilitating and painful. Guinea Worm is removed by wrapping it around a stick. The process can take weeks or 2-3 months.

Prevention:

Avoid drinking infected water.
Filtering water.

Cure:

Wrapping the worm around a stick and slowly removing it.
This can take weeks or 2 to 3 month to remove

Works Cited

Carter Center. Eradicating Guinea Worm Disease: Taming the "Fiery Serpent". On Youtube.<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4kQWvUv_Ns>. retrieved 22-May-2012

World Health Organization. Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease)<http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs359/en/> retrieved 22-May-2012