"Dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease, is a potentially disabling infection caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis."
"Infection occurs with the ingestion of water containing the vector water fleas infected with larvae of Dracunculus medinensis (meaning "little worm from Medina"). The fleas are killed by gastric acid in the stomach freeing the larvae which eventually migrate to the subcutaneous tissues. There, the female larvae subcutaneously burrow to their point of exit which is normally in the patient's lower limbs. The larvae mature into worms, mate, and form a blister on the skin through which their larvae are expelled 3."
"As of the mid-1980s, dracunculiasis was endemic to the Nile Valley, central and western Africa, India, Pakistan, Iran, and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, with approximately 3.5 million cases per annum 3."
"As of the mid-1980s, dracunculiasis was endemic to the Nile Valley, central and western Africa, India, Pakistan, Iran, and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, with approximately 3.5 million cases per annum 3."