Imported dracunculiasis--United States, 1995 and 1997.

Dracunculiasis is a parasitic infection caused by a filarial worm (Dracunculus medinensis [i.e., Guinea worm]) that is transmitted through contaminated drinking water. Approximately 1 year after a person is infected, one or more meter-long adult female worms begin to emerge through the skin, often incapacitating the patient for > or =2 months. Despite a dramatic decrease in cases worldwide, dracunculiasis is still occasionally imported into the United States. Since 1995, two cases of dracunculiasis have been reported in the United States, both imported from Sudan. This report summarizes the investigation of these cases.