Dracunculiasis the disease commonly known as Guinea Worm is caused by the parasitic worm Dracunculus Medinensis . Guinea Worm disease only occurs in 10% of the world’s poorest populations who has no access to safe drinking water or health care (CDC) . This parasitic worm is the largest of parasites affecting the human’s tissues. The risk for Dracunculiasis varies by ones sex, age, profession, and ethnicity. These differences reflect from how people’s drinking water is obtained in these countries (Medscape). Drancunculiasis is commonly found now in Southern Sudan. About the same number of men and women are equally infected. Guinea Worm is common among the ages of 15–45 years old. People in this age group are known to be farmers, herders, and water fetchers for the household. Water fetchers often affected more due to the fact that they are more likely to drink contaminated water while away from home (CDC).
People become infected with Guinea worm by drinking stationary water containing copepods tiny "water fleas" that carry Guinea worm. It takes about 2 weeks to mature inside the copepods before they can infect humans. Measuring 2-3 feet in length the adult female can carry about 3 million embryos within one person (World Health Organization). This parasite migrates through the victim's subcutaneous tissues causing severe pain especially when it occurs in the joints. The worm eventually emerges causing an intense pain, blisters and ulcers accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting. Studies show that biological factors can increase ones susceptibility. Not everyone drinking from the same contaminated water supply will become infected.

Incubation periods can range anywhere from 10-14 months or until the female larvae grows into a full-size adults. When the Guinea worm is ready to come out of the body, it creates a painful burning blister on the skin. When the infected person immerses the blister in cool water to ease the symptoms, the Guinea worm breaks through the blister and part of the worm is exposed. There is no specific drug to treat or prevent Guinea Worm Disease. There is also no vaccine. The only way to avoid infection is to prevent exposure to the Guinea worm and to filter water through a sterile cloth like material.
While the death rates are low, disability is a common outcome. People end up having complications moving around because of pain caused by secondary bacterial infections. Disabilities last 8 weeks on average but sometimes can be permanent. This is approximately 8 weeks from not working in their fields, tending to animals, going to school, and caring for their families (CDC).
Globally this is an epidemic since the emergence of smallpox disease. People in these third world countries are highly uneducated about the importance of preventive care and health care in general. Therefore, it’s causing a spread of disease such as The Guinea Worm. Thankfully, for organizations like the Carter Center who has been helping since 1986 to decrease the numbers of people infected with Guinea Worm Disease we soon may be able to see this disease vanish into history. Since Aug 2013 only 115 cases has been found in African and Asia. Personally, we should look at how we take for granted our centralized water system here in the United States. As well as how technologically advanced our country is compared to others. This too could be us. My question to you is what will you do to seek change so we all can be equally treated?

References:

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/guineaworm/ The Carter Center:
The Carter Center. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cartercenter.org/health/guinea_worm/mini_site/index.html
Medscape
Dhawan K, V. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/997617-overview

World Health Organization
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/en/

Medicine Net
Unknow. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/guinea_worm_disease/article.htm