Detail of a cloth (from Togo, Africa) that depicts Guinea Worm Disease GWD due to the lack of clean water
Detail of a cloth (from Togo, Africa) that can be used as a skirt--although this piece was used by members of the Peace Corps as a backdrop at informational meetings about prevention of the spreading of the nematode parasite Dracunculus medinensis, or guinea worm disease (GWD). This is a stylized graphic of the World Health Organization symbol--a symbol easily recognized in Africa as something relating to health. The little black organisms that are swimming around the background are copepods or "water fleas". Guinea worm disease is set to be the next infectious disease eradicated from the world and the first to be overcome without a vaccine or treatment. The copepods are carriers of the guinea worm larvae---when the contaminated water enters the stomach, the copepods are killed by stomach acid, releasing the guinea worm larvae. The man has a Guinea worm coming out of his foot--when the worm emerges it creates a painful blister which is why he is using a crutch. He became infected because his water was not filtered and it contains the copepods, which carry Guinea worm larvae. There is a stick with a Guinea worm wrapped around it. This is one way that people remove the worms once they start emerging.
Size: 3072px × 2048px
Photo credit: © Todd Strand / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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