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Dracunculiasis eradication: almost a reality
D R Hopkins1, E Ruiz-Tiben, T K Ruebush
1Global 2000 Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30307, USA.
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|October 6, 1997
Summary
The global campaign to eradicate dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, has significantly reduced cases by 95% since 1986. Challenges remain, particularly in Sudan, due to funding and conflict, hindering complete eradication efforts.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Infectious Disease Control
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Dracunculiasis eradication efforts began in 1980, gaining momentum with the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (IDWSSD).
- African health ministers set a 1995 target for eradication, endorsed by international organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Assembly.
- While many endemic countries initiated case searches in the 1980s, only a few launched full eradication programs during that decade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the progress of the global dracunculiasis eradication campaign.
- To identify the primary obstacles hindering the complete eradication of dracunculiasis.
- To outline the strategic aims for dracunculiasis control in 1997, focusing on containment and access in challenging regions.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical proposals and initiatives for dracunculiasis eradication starting from 1980.
- Analysis of the timeline of national eradication program launches in endemic countries.
- Examination of reported case incidence data from 1986 to 1996, with a focus on regional distribution.
Main Results:
- Dracunculiasis incidence decreased by 95% from an estimated 3.2 million cases in 1986 to 152,805 in 1996.
- Sudan accounted for 78% of reported cases in 1996, highlighting it as a major remaining focus.
- Insufficient funding and ongoing civil war in Sudan were identified as critical barriers to eradication.
Conclusions:
- While significant progress has been made, dracunculiasis eradication was not achieved by the end of 1996.
- Containment of remaining cases outside Sudan is a key objective for 1997.
- Intensified control measures in accessible areas of Sudan are crucial, with a long-term goal of reaching all affected regions as political circumstances permit.