Dracunculiasis eradication: global surveillance summary, 2021

In accordance with the recommendations of the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE), WHO has certified 199 countries, areas and territories (including 187 WHO Member States) as free of transmission of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm [GW] disease). Seven countries remain to be certified: Angola, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan.

In 2021, 4 countries reported a total of 15 human cases of dracunculiasis, namely, Chad (8 cases), Ethiopia (1 case), Mali (2 cases) and South Sudan (4 cases), in a total of 14 villages.