Progress toward global dracunculiasis eradication, June 2002.

In 1986, when the World Health Assembly first adopted a resolution calling for the eradication of dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), an estimated 3.5 million persons in 20 countries had the disease, and approximately 120 million persons were at risk for infection. By December 2001, annual incidence of dracunculiasis had decreased approximately 98%, and seven countries (Cameroon, Chad, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Senegal, and Yemen) in which dracunculiasis had been endemic previously had eliminated the disease. This report describes the status of the global Dracunculiasis Eradication Program (DEP) as of June 2002. The findings indicate that DEP has succeeded in reducing incidence of dracunculiasis substantially; the disease can be eradicated if the remaining 13 countries in which it is endemic detect and contain transmission from the final cases.