1. Guinea Worm Disease Dracunculiasis
Dracunculiasis

2. Presence of Dracunculiasis in humans has been documented for centuries

3. Carolus Linnaeus postulated that the “fiery serpents” were actually parasitic worms

4. The disease is caused by Dracunculus medinensis which can grow to a meter long

5. The worms use two hosts
Individual ingests water contaminated with small crustaceans known as Cyclops that are infected with mature worm larvae
Digestive juices eliminate Cyclops, releasing larvae which then move to mate
Fertilized females disperse through body (often lower body) and emerge through a blister
Patients often dunk infected region into water to alleviate pain, releasing millions of larvae into water

6. Symptoms include allergy-like reactions and the formation of a blister

7. Diagnosis is purely visual and definite only when the head emerges

8. Treatment consists of removal of the worm

9. Dracunculiasis does not kill directly but leaves patients vulnerable to infection for weeks resulting in loss of productivity and sometimes death

10. Prevention is achieved through education and avoiding contaminated water

11. The Carter Center is the primary organization behind the eradication of the disease

12. CDC, UNICEF and WHO have also contributed to the 99
CDC, UNICEF and WHO have also contributed to the 99.9% decrease in worldwide cases since 1986

13. In 1986, 21 countries saw cases of Guinea Worm Disease, now only 4 do

14. Only 4 countries continue to experience new cases

15. Credits
Dhawan, MD, Vinod K. “Dracunculiasis.” Medscape. WebMD, 12 July Web. 21 Nov <
“Dracunculiasis.” BIO Ventures for Global Health. Web. 21 Nov <
“Dracunculiasis.” World Health Organization. Web. 21 Nov <
“Guinea Worm Disease.” Carter Center. Web. 20 Nov <
Heiser, Lauren, and Dr. D. Scott Smith. “Dracunculiasis.”Stanford. Web. 21 Nov <