Dracunculiasis, Yemen

Overview

The last dracunculiasis cases were reported in Yemen in September 1997. The 3-year precertification period began in October 1997. An investigation carried out in conjunction with the polio national immunization days (NIDs) in late 1999 reported rumours of 330 cases. The rumours were not investigated immediately. WHO then sent 2 epidemiologists (the first in September 2000 and the second in November 2000) to assist the Yemen Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP) in the investigation.

The epidemiologists found that the majority of the rumours were either referring to cases which had taken place several years before or to other infections, mainly myiasis and larvae migrans. Only 2 rumours were believed to be possibly related to a recent infection with Dracunculus medinensis.