Dracunculiasis is infection with Dracunculus medinensis, a nematode worm, also known as Guinea worm. It is caused by drinking water containing water fleas (Cyclops species) that have ingested Dracunculus larvae.

Since 2006, the guinea worm programme has been establishing a community-based surveillance system capable of detecting index Guinea worm cases in endemic and at-risk villages of South Sudan and an effective intervention delivery system to break racunculiasis transmission.

Surveillance and intervention delivery activities continue to be strengthened in South Sudan’s known endemic and at-risk villages. In Guinea worm-free areas, WHO is supporting the merger of passive surveillance activities into the emerging Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system. There are 5884 villages under active surveillance in South Sudan (2011).

During 2011, the programme reported a total of 1028 guinea worm cases from 304 endemic villages compared to 1698 cases in 2010. This figure represented a 39% reduction and 78% of the reported cases in 2011 were contained.

Of cases reported in 2011, 75% were reported from Eastern Equatoria State, 11% from Warrap State and 6% from Jonglei State, with the rest reported from Central Equatoria, Lakes and Western Bhar El Gazel states.