Dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease, is caused by the nematode Dracunculus medinensis, which infects humans typically through drinking unsafe water. The disease occurs in the most remote and poor areas of the world. There is neither a vaccine to prevent nor medication to treat the disease. Nevertheless, the disease has been set for eradication since the 1980s and has been eliminated from many of the endemic countries through preventive measures that include behavioral change in patients and communities, self-reporting of suspected cases and animals to health workers or volunteers, filtering drinking water, drinking water from improved sources, and preventing infected individuals and animals from entering or swimming in drinking water sources. These are complemented by vector control and the provision of improved water sources. The disease has reached its lowest levels ever recorded in the drive toward eradication; however, there are current infections being recorded in animals. This chapter reviews, among other things, the epidemiology of the disease and the progress made in eradicating dracunculiasis since the eradication campaign began, the biology, the eradication strategies, current challenges to the eradication, further research for control, and the outlook for the next 10 years.
BT - Neglected Tropical Diseases - Sub-Saharan Africa DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-53901-5_3 LA - ENG M3 - Book N2 -Dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease, is caused by the nematode Dracunculus medinensis, which infects humans typically through drinking unsafe water. The disease occurs in the most remote and poor areas of the world. There is neither a vaccine to prevent nor medication to treat the disease. Nevertheless, the disease has been set for eradication since the 1980s and has been eliminated from many of the endemic countries through preventive measures that include behavioral change in patients and communities, self-reporting of suspected cases and animals to health workers or volunteers, filtering drinking water, drinking water from improved sources, and preventing infected individuals and animals from entering or swimming in drinking water sources. These are complemented by vector control and the provision of improved water sources. The disease has reached its lowest levels ever recorded in the drive toward eradication; however, there are current infections being recorded in animals. This chapter reviews, among other things, the epidemiology of the disease and the progress made in eradicating dracunculiasis since the eradication campaign began, the biology, the eradication strategies, current challenges to the eradication, further research for control, and the outlook for the next 10 years.
PB - Springer International Publishing PY - 2024 SN - 9783031539008/2194-8275, 2194-8283 SP - 53 EP - 72 T2 - Neglected Tropical Diseases - Sub-Saharan Africa TI - Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease) ER -