Update: dracunculiasis eradication--Ghana and Nigeria, 1994.

The plan for the global eradication of dracunculiasis (i.e., Guinea worm disease) was developed in October 1980 (1). Since 1987-1988, Global 2000, Inc., the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the U.S. Agency for International Development have assisted the Guinea Worm Eradication Programs in Ghana and Nigeria, countries in west Africa. In 1989, Ghana and Nigeria ranked first and second in the number of reported cases of dracunculiasis with 179,556 and 640,008 cases, respectively (2). This report summarizes data for the two countries during 1994 and describes efforts toward eradication of dracunculiasis.