The other 'neglected' eradication programme: achieving the final mile for Guinea worm disease eradication?

Guinea worm disease is one of two diseases targeted for eradication, the other being polio. Since the late 1980s, the number of new cases per year has been reduced from approximately one million to some 25 000 in 2006. However, there was an increase from 2005 owing to improved surveillance in Sudan and problems in Ghana. The International Commission argues that more resources are required to ensure that the goal of eradication is completed. Elimination of transmission throughout Asia has now been confirmed and the disease is now confined to a small number of African countries requiring increased efforts to achieve the global goal.