Dracunculiasis eradication: global surveillance summary, 2023

In accordance with the recommendations of the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE), WHO has certified 200 countries, areas and territories (including 188 WHO Member States) as free of transmission of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease). The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the latest country to be certified, in December 2022. Six countries remain to be certified: Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan.

In 2023, 5 countries reported a total of 14 human cases of dracunculiasis in a total of 11 villages, namely, Chad (9 cases), South Sudan (2 cases), Mali (1  case) and 1 case each in Cameroon and Central African Republic (CAR), which was certified as dracunculiasis-free in 2007. The case in CAR was probably linked to population movements with Chad.