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Guinea Worm Disease

InfectiousDracunculus medinensisAncient (Ebers Papyrus)Contaminated drinking water
TypeInfectious
CauseDracunculus medinensis
First KnownAncient (Ebers Papyrus)
TransmissionContaminated drinking water

About Guinea Worm Disease

A meter-long worm emerges through a burning skin lesion over weeks. The ancient treatment of winding the worm on a stick may explain the medical serpent symbol. Cases fell from 3.5 million in 1986 to about a dozen, the next disease in line for eradication.

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