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Guinea Worm Disease to be Wiped Out from the Earth in Just Two Years

by Savitha C Muppala on Dec 9 2008 8:01 PM

The Jimmy Carter centre dedicated to the eradication of Guinea worm disease made a positive announcement of completely eradicating the disease in just about two years.

Former US president and anti-disease campaigner Jimmy Carter said that history would be repeating itself for a second time when Guinea worm disease is eradicated, as until date, small pox remains the only disease to be completely eradicated.

What was about 3.5 million cases of Guinea worm disease in 1986 is down to less than 5000 cases presently. The disease, which is also known as dracunculiasis, is now present in only 13 countries in Africa, according to the WHO report.

Intelligent yet inexpensive strategies like using larvicides to kill the worms, distributing cloth as filter in order to weed out parasites from drinking water, and educating people about safe hygiene practices helped cut the infection rate by 99%.



Source-Medindia
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