Two countries reported a total of 19 human cases during January–June 2019 from 12 villages (1 village in Angola and 11 villages in Chad).

Globally, 3 countries reported a total of 1435 dogs and 6 baboons infected with Dracunculus medinensis in 2018.

Of the more than 2426 rumours reported and investigated during the reporting period, 98% were investigated within 24 hours.

Global burden, 2018

The global burden of dracunculiasis has fallen significantly since the launch of eradication efforts in the 1980s when 20 countries were endemic for the disease.

In 1986, an estimated 3.5 million new cases occurred.

In 1989, based on active village-based searches, 892 055 cases were reported to have occurred in 15 of the 20 endemic countries (excluding data from Chad, the Central African Republic, Senegal and Sudan).

WHO does not have information on one case from South Sudan.

South Sudan has made remarkable progress, reporting zero cases in 2017; however, 10 human cases were reported in 2018.

In Chad, the number of dog infections has increased to a cumulative total of 1040 dogs. In 2018, a total of 1069 dogs were reported with the infection. Of the more than 49 558 rumours reported and investigated, 98% were investigated within 24 hours. The outbreak that was first detected in 2010 continued into its ninth year in 2018. The country was reclassified as endemic for the disease in 2012. A total of 17 new indigenous cases were reported from 12 villages of eight districts in four regions in 2018. None of the 14 villages had reported human cases in previous years (2010–2018). None of the 96 cases reported in 2010–2018 had a history of travel outside Chad.

The large number of infected dogs reported in Chad is a challenge. Intermittent insecurity in certain areas of Chad, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Kenya, the northern part of Mali, South Sudan and the southern part of Sudan has hindered surveillance and programme implementation.

As of 16 February 2018, 198 countries, territories and areas have been certified free of dracunculiasis transmission. Seven countries remain to be certified, of which one country (the Democratic Republic of the Congo) have no recent history of dracunculiasis. The six other countries are either endemic (Chad, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Mali) or in the precertification phase (Angola and Sudan).

During its 12th meeting in February 2018, the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE) recommended that WHO certify Kenya as free of dracunculiasis transmission.