This presentation is dedicated to the eradication project undertaken by Carter Center of Guinea worms in tropical region and propose some longtime solutions for this disease which has no cure.
1. Waterborne Infectious Diseases Prevention of Guinea Worm and Post Guinea Worm Eradication Management Presented by Daniel Yawo Akrodou Walden University Public Health Ph.D. Student
Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to The Waterborne Infectious Disease Guinea Worm Prevention presentation. I am Daniel Yawo Akrodou student at Walden University in Public Health Epidemiology Ph.D.Program. Thank you for coming.
Waterborne infectious diseases, generally they are caused by the ingestion of water contaminated by human or animal excrements, which contain pathogenic microorganisms. These are some examples: Guinea Worm, Schistosomiasis, Malaria, and Intestinal Nematode.
Contaminated Water with dangerous germs.
Schistosomiasis Life Cycle, worms at different stages and diseases manifestation
Intestinal Nematode Life Cycle and worm in stomach.
Waterborne diseases create enormous health problems and cause millions deaths worldwide, every year. For example, they cause 39% of diarrheal diseases which are responsible for 3.5 to 18 million children deaths per year. Malaria represents 14% of waterborne diseases and causes 526 million deaths per year. Others such as intestinal nematode, trachoma, schistosomia, and guinea worm affect million of people per year.
Others such as intestinal nematode, trachoma, schistosomia, and guinea worm affect million of people per year also.
Let learn about typical waterborne infectious diseases’ life cycle, symptoms and its effective prevention. Example Guinea worm. It is a parasitic disease transmitted through drinking water contaminated with infected water fleas. Guinea worm exits through body after one year growth, causing painful blisters in the skin.
Guinea Worm germs, larvae and full grown female exiting the body.
This is a fully grown female guinea worm in the body after one year growth, it can reach 3 feet.
Once ingested the female worm grows up to a 3 feet in one year and causes when ready to exit fever, nausea, chills, and lethargy followed by painful skin ulcers when the worm emerges.
Guinea worm enters body when a person drinks a water containing tiny fleas that are infected with guinea worm larvae.
The fleas digested release larvae into abdominal tissues where they mate and start their development process.
Before exiting out of the infected body the female worm grows up to 3 feet long, move through the body mostly to lower limbs.
After one year, the mature worm emerges from the blister it creates. The victim in pain rushes to cool in the water
The life cycle continues through these phases Phase of The water infesting. Once the person infected contacts water the worm releases clouds of larvae in to the water. Phase Infecting Fleas Water fleas consume the larvae which resists digestion and will be able to infect people who will drink the contaminated water.
This is Guinea Worm Life Cycle. It exposes its chain of infection, which can be broken.
The infection of guinea worm prevents infected persons to walk and work for months. Its create physical incapacities which can be permanent for severe cases. Consequently, it creates lack of human resources to work in the farm and tremendous economical lost, when entire families and villages are crippled, since the outbreak occurred essentially during planting and harvesting seasons.
There is no cure, vaccine or medication to prevent Guinea Worm.
The good new is that it can be prevent. And major prevention campaigns have been proven effective. The results are encouraging. In 1986 there were more than three million cases of the disease, almost all in Africa; in 2005 only just over 16,000
These are some effective basic prevention methods. Instructing to targeted population to avoid drinking contaminated water. And they must filter water before using, or drinking it. Monitored infected persons to avoid contact with water sources.
Also people must use safe sources of water and treat it with portable filters.
It is necessary to begin forming culturally appropriate interventions such as: local guinea worm education committee as eradication effort support and to convince local people that guinea worm is not curse. And create incentive programs to encourage people.
Also we must focus on selective campaigns by targeting women and children
Even though we have witnessed a success in the combat against guinea worn, there are some current major obstacles to face such as: -Security problems in some endemic countries (Example Sudan) -Lack of political leaders’ wills in some endemic countries -Difficulty in behavioral change of people -Absence of real clinical treatment like a vaccine or medication -Inadequate funding at certain times.
Solving these problems will need to take this following actions: -Creation of advocacy groups to support major institutions which are already working on the field. -Convincing governments, local authorities, and organizing meetings or workshops to inform people abroad -Organizing concerts, cultural games and fund raisings to advance guinea worm eradication
Some long term actions need to be taken such as: -Clinical Researches to find medication and vaccine to guinea warm -Establishment of continual education programs for local people -Adequate water supply system must be created to solve water scarcity problems -Tight guinea worm surveillance programs in the zone where the disease is stubborn
Adequate water supply system must be created to solve water scarcity problems in many urban, rural and villages.
Establishment of continual education programs for local people
Tight guinea worm programs surveillance in the zones where the disease is stubborn
Special thank to Professor Raymond Thron to give us this opportunity to realize this presentation Thank you very much. Thank you all.
References Barry, M.(2007),"The Tail End of Guinea Worm — Global Eradication without a Drug or a Vaccine", New England Journal of Medicine 356 (25): 2561–2564 Bern. C. (1992). The magnitude of the global problem of diarrheal disease: a ten year update. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 70:705-14. Henning, B. (2008). Efficient water market mechanisms to cope with water scarcity. International Journal of Water Resources Development, Volume 19, Issue 4 December 2003 , pages 553 - 567 Snow, M., White, G.L., & Kim, H.S.(2008). Inexpensive and Time-Efficient Hand Hygiene Interventions Increase Elementary School Children's Hand Hygiene Rates. Journal of School Health, v78 n4 p230-233 Apr 2008 The Carter Center, (2008) "Guinea Worm Eradication Program", T , http://www.cartercenter.org/health/guinea_worm/index.html, retrieved on 2008-07-15
References U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(2008). Dracunculiasis , http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/dracunculiasis/factsht_dracunculiasis.htm#treatment Retrieved 2008-07-15 WHO.(2008). Safer water, better health Costs, benefits and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote health. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241596435_eng.pdf World Health Organization.(2007). World moves closer to eradicating ancient worm disease. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2007/np15/en/index.html. Retrieved July 15,2008.