1. Guinea Worm Disease By: Daniel Coward

2. Guinea Worm Disease It is a preventable waterborne disease caused by a parasite

3. Dracunculus medinensis Also known as the “Guinea worm”

4. Dracunculus medinensis Also known as the “Guinea worm” The largest tissue affecting parasite in humans

5. Dracunculus medinensis Also known as the “Guinea worm” The largest tissue affecting parasite in humans Adult female carries about 300 embryos

6. Etiology The disease is contracted when an individual drinks water that is contaminated with the parasite.

7. Pathogenesis

8. Foot blister induced by the female guinea worm Guinea worm emerging

9. Treatment There is NO DRUG and no VACCINE to prevent infection

10. 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

11. Treatment Many infected people get the worm out by twirling a stick

12. Risk Groups Occurs almost exclusively in isolated rural areas.

13. Risk Groups Occurs almost exclusively in isolated rural areas. Occurs only in 5 countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Sudan, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, and Mali.

14. Risk Groups In 2007, only 9,585 cases of GWD were reported. Most of those cases were from Sudan (61%) and Ghana (35%).

15. Prevelance/Incidence The disease occurs at two different times of the year

16. Prevelance/Incidence The disease occurs at two different times of the year Near the Sahara the transmission occurs during the rainy season

17. 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

18. Why this matters? The disease has a limited geographic distribution It is seasonal in nature

19. So?

20. It is easy to target and eradicate it from endemic areas

21. Socioeconomic Effects Estimated that infected people lose 100 days of work and children miss 25% of the school year

22. Prevention Guinea worm disease is a vulnerable disease because its transmission cycle relies on humans

23. 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

24. Prevention Filter water!

25. Prevention Educate!

26. Prevention Boil Water!

27. Prevention Only drink water from underground sources

28. Eradication Carter Center leads the way

29. Eradication Others Follow!

30. Eradication Educate

31. Eradication Educate Treatment

32. Eradication Educate Treatment Larvicides

33. Eradication Educate Treatment Larvicides Pond Caretakers

34. Eradication Results Great!!!

35. Eradication Results Great!!!