Eradication of dracunculiasis
Permanent global eradication from humans / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eradication of dracunculiasis is an ongoing program. Dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, is an infection by the Guinea worm.[1] In 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases of Guinea worm in 20 endemic nations in Asia and Africa.[2] Ghana alone reported 180 000 cases in 1989. The number of cases has since been reduced by more than 99.999% to 14 in 2023[3][4] in five remaining endemic states: South Sudan, Chad, Mali, Ethiopia, Angola and Central African Republic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the international body that certifies whether a disease has been eliminated from a country or eradicated from the world.[5] The Carter Center, a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded by former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, also reports the status of the Guinea worm eradication program by country.[6]
As of 2024, the WHO goal for eradication in humans and animals is 2030 (previously targets have been set at 1991, 2009, 2015, and 2020).[7]