Guinea worm life cycle

The Ministry of Health says South Sudan is free of Guinea Worm.

In December last year, 148 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide by the Carter Center, with the vast majority in South Sudan.

The Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Health Dr. Margret Itto, who just came back from Addis Ababa where she attended a regional forum on Guinea worm.

The ministry recorded 5021 cases of the disease in 2012, and 113 cases in 2013.

“And today, 2014, we are happy to say that we have zero case, since January so far,” said Dr Itto.

A Technical officer for the World Health Organization, Evans Majani, said they are committed to support the Ministry in eradication of Guinea worm.

“We will work with surveillance officers not just to detect and report cases but more also to strengthen awareness because it is through awareness that people are able to help in reporting any rumor that could be existing in any of these areas.”

Guinea worm disease is a parasitic infection caused by a nematode roundworm parasite.

It is contracted when people drink water from stagnant sources containing water fleas that have infective Guinea worm larvae in it.