Health officials report 33 new cases of Guinea worm

Health authorities in Benin have reported 33 cases of Guinea worm this year in two sub-prefectures in the central part of the country. The Department of Public Health's statistics for February show 32 recorded cases of the disease in Savelou and one in Djidja; both in the Department of Zou-Colline, one of the administrative zones of the country. Worst hit within these sub-prefectures were the localities of Dakanme and Bohoungo, both in the Commune of Tchetti in Savelou. The only water pump in Dakanme works poorly and produces dirty water for its 400 residents. The situation is similar in Bohoungo where, in addition, the pump is unable to produce enough water for the villagers, forcing them to get their supplies from flooded areas. The Guinea worm is a parasite known scientifically as Dracunculus Medinensis. It lives beneath the skin of mammals, including humans, and is common in Africa and India. Health officials in Zou-Collines Benin say the number of recorded cases of the worm in the department rose from 121 in 2000 to 157 in 2001.