Transcript Guinea Worm Disease

Guinea Worm Disease
By: Daniel Coward
Guinea Worm Disease
• It is a preventable waterborne disease caused by a
parasite
Dracunculus medinensis
• Also known as the “Guinea worm”
Dracunculus medinensis
• Also known as the “Guinea worm”
• The largest tissue affecting parasite in humans
Dracunculus medinensis
• Also known as the “Guinea worm”
• The largest tissue affecting parasite in humans
• Adult female carries about 300 embryos
Etiology
• The disease is contracted when an individual
drinks water that is contaminated with the
parasite.
Pathogenesis
Pathogenesis
Foot blister induced by the
female guinea worm
Guinea worm emerging
Treatment
• There is NO DRUG and no VACCINE to prevent infection
Treatment
• There is NO DRUG and no VACCINE for guinea worm disease
to prevent infection
• After the worm emerges, it can be pulled out very slowly
Treatment
• Many infected people get the worm out by
twirling a stick
Risk Groups
• Occurs almost exclusively in isolated rural areas.
Risk Groups
• Occurs almost exclusively in isolated rural areas.
• Occurs only in 5 countries in sub-Saharan Africa:
Sudan, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, and Mali.
Risk Groups
• In 2007, only 9,585 cases of GWD were reported.
Most of those cases were from Sudan (61%) and
Ghana (35%).
Prevelance/Incidence
• The disease occurs at two different times of the year
Prevelance/Incidence
• The disease occurs at two different times of the year
• Near the Sahara the transmission occurs during the
rainy season
Prevelance/Incidence
• The disease occurs at two different times of the year
• Near the Sahara the transmission occurs during the
rainy season
• In the Savanna the transmission occurs during the
dry season
Why this matters?
• The disease has a limited geographic
distribution
• It is seasonal in nature
So?
So?
• It is easy to target and eradicate it from
endemic areas
Socioeconomic Effects
• Estimated that infected people lose 100 days of work
and children miss 25% of the school year
Prevention
• Guinea worm disease is a vulnerable disease
because its transmission cycle relies on
humans
Prevention
• Guinea worm disease is a vulnerable disease
because its transmission cycle relies on
humans
• It is possible to permanently eliminate the
disease with the use of prevention techniques
Prevention
• Filter water!
Prevention
• Educate!
Prevention
•Boil Water!
Prevention
• Only drink water from underground sources
Eradication
• Carter Center leads the way
Eradication
•Others Follow!
Eradication
• Educate
Eradication
• Educate
• Treatment
Eradication
• Educate
• Treatment
• Larvicides
Eradication
• Educate
• Treatment
• Larvicides
• Pond Caretakers
Eradication Results
Great!!!
Eradication Results
Great!!!