Eradication of dracunculiasis
Summary
The eradication of dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, is an ongoing program. Dracunculiasis is an infection by the Guinea worm that causes severe pain and open wounds when guinea worms exit the body through the skin. In 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases of Guinea worm in 20 endemic nations in Asia and Africa. The number of human cases has since been reduced by more than 99.999%, to the range of 10–15 per year in 2021–2025, with only six countries remaining to be certified free of transmission: Chad, South Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia, Angola, and Sudan. Cameroon has also had some cases in recent years, primarily due to its proximity to Chad, but was previously certified free of internal transmission.
Originally created by Anxietycello
1/21/2018, 5:16:49 PM
Modified
4/9/2026, 5:12:59 PM
Recent revisions
smaller number, moved a citation up higher, added name to it for later citing
/* 2023 */ What is 'an ICT'?
Rescuing 9 sources and tagging 1 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.5
/* Eradication program */
No longer accurate, sadly
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/* 2025 */ Update with the last wrap-up.
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/* 2000s */ Removing update request. The answer is Yes. South Sudan has continued to have cases. As of the most recently completed calendar year, South Sudan is currently second only to Chad in human cases.
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Adding source
WHO says "Six countries still await certification: Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan." (not Central African Republic). See https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/381456/WER10020-21-165-191.pdf?sequence=1
Although the frequency of human cases has plateaued since the beginning of 2021, the frequency of cases in animals has continued to trend downward.
/* top */ WHA resolution in 2025
Possibly eradicated in some of the six but not yet certified
