Dracunculiasis eradication: Global surveillance summary, 2014

Overview

During 2014 a total of 126 cases of dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) from 54 localities were reported by the remaining endemic countries, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali and South Sudan to WHO. This represents a 15% decrease in cases compared to 148 reported in 2013, a 48% reduction in localities reporting cases compared with 103 localities in 2013, and an 80% reduction since 2012, when 272 localities reported cases.

Indigenous transmission zones were further reduced to limited areas of the 4 remaining endemic countries. With the certification of Ghana in January 2015, WHO has certified a total of 198 countries, areas and territories (including 186 WHO Member States) free of dracunculiasis. However, challenges were also encountered during the year. While a decrease in the number of cases recorded in 2014 compared to 2013 was noted in Chad (from 14 to 13 cases, a 7% decrease), Ethiopia (from 7 to 3 cases, a 57% decrease) and South Sudan (from 113 to 70 cases, a 38% decrease), a significant increase was recorded in Mali (from 11 to 40 cases, a 264% increase). Since 2012, insecurity has greatly hampered Guinea Worm Eradication Programme access and effectiveness in endemic areas of northern Mali. In 2014, because of relative security improvements in some of these areas, the Programme was able to identify dracunculiasis outbreaks in 2 villages, resulting in the increase in cases observed in 2014 compared to 2013. Sudan, a country in the pre-certification stage, reported zero cases in 2014 compared to the 3 cases reported in a locality in South Darfur near the border with South Sudan in 2013.

This report describes the progress made in efforts to eradicate dracunculiasis during 2014.

NOTE: Monthly report on dracunculiasis cases, January– March 2015 available on p. 215