Current situation: global eradication campaign

13 January 2012 | Geneva -- The number of reported cases of dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) has continued to drop, reaching a new low of 1060 cases* between 1 January and 31 December 2011.This progressive decline indicates that the disease is on the verge of eradication.

South Sudan alone reported 1030 cases in 2011, or 97% of the global total. Other countries reporting cases in 2011 were Chad (10 cases), Ethiopia (8 cases, including 2 imported cases from South Sudan) and Mali (12 cases).

All cases were reported from a total of 485 villages, where there is limited or no access to safe drinking-water. Of the 1060 cases in 2011, 74% were reportedly contained, compared with a 75% containment rate from a global total of 1797 cases in 2010.

• Dracunculiasis: WHO upbeat about eradicating dracunculiasis
• Monthly report on dracunculiasis cases January–October 2011