In addition to the pain of the blister, removing the worm is also very painful. Furthermore, without proper care the wound often becomes infected by bacteria. These wound infections can then result in one or more of the following complications: Redness and swelling of the skin (cellulitis)
What is being done to stop guinea worm disease?
There is no drug to treat Guinea worm disease and no vaccine to prevent infection. Once part of the worm begins to come out of the wound, the rest of the worm can only be pulled out a few centimeters each day by winding it around a piece of gauze or a small stick.
What is an obstacle to the eradication of Guinea worm disease?
Africa is edging closer to eradicating guinea worm disease, but insecurity in some endemic areas and fears of cross-border transmission are causing concern among those spearheading the eradication campaign.
How many cases of Guinea worm did they find?
Thanks to the Guinea Worm Eradication Program, there were only 28 human cases reported worldwide in 2018. These human cases were reported in Angola (1 case), Chad (17 cases), and South Sudan (10 cases). Animals infected with D. medinensis, mostly domesticated dogs, have been reported since 2012.
Why did guinea worm disease remain prevalent for so long?
Many people in affected villages suffer from GWD year after year. This is probably because the same water sources are repeatedly contaminated and conditions that support the spread of disease have not changed. It might also be related to some biological characteristic of the person that increases susceptibility.
How did Nigeria eradicate Guinea worm disease?
One of the cardinal strategies for guinea-worm eradication in Nigeria has been active case search – a surveillance programme that used thousands of village volunteers to conduct house-to-house search for disease. Polio vaccinators helped to support surveillance during this final stage of eradication.
How does a Guinea worm exit the human body?
During digestion the copepods die, releasing the D. medinensis larvae. The larvae exit the digestive tract by penetrating the stomach and intestine, taking refuge in the abdomen or retroperitoneal space. Over the next two to three months the larvae develop into adult male and female worms.
Will guinea worm be eradicated?
Unfortunately, there is no medicine to cure Guinea worm disease nor a vaccine to prevent it, and humans do not develop immunity to the disease. However, disease transmission can be prevented. Guinea worm disease is on track to become the second human disease, and the first parasitic disease, to be eradicated.
