Guys, were really close to eradicating the second disease ever from the ========================================================= planet ===== There are only 126 cases of Guinea worm left in the world before the parasite is gone forever. For only the second time in the history of humanity, humans are very, very close to wiping a disease off the face of the planet. The first victim was smallpox, back in 1977, and this time, we have our sights set on Guinea worm disease, which is caused by the Guinea worm parasite, Dracunculiasis, and just happens to be one of the most horrible conditions Ive read about in a long time. The Guinea worm infects people who drink water contaminated with its larvae, and it now only exists in four countries in Africa. But that wasnt always the case. In 1986, there were 3.5 million cases of infection reported across Africa and Asia. Former US President Jimmy Carter first saw the disease in Africa in the 80s, when he visited a village in Guinea where more than two-thirds of the locals were infected. The life cycle of the Guinea worm is pretty terrifying in itself - once its infected a host, the larvae develops into a pale worm that can stretch up to one metre long.This growth period lasts for around 12 months, during which time the host might not even know theyre infected. And then a painful blister will suddenly appear somewhere on the hosts body - usually the foot or another sensitive region. Thats when the worst part begins - the worm starts to emerge out of its hosts skin over an agonising 30-day period. Of course, the parasites arent gone just yet, and its hard to know just how long it will take before we can say the disease is gone for good. But its ridiculous (and inspiring) to think that, simply by using education and very basic technology, we can stop a devastating disease in its track.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 09:49:46 +0000
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