dracunculiasis

noun

dra·​cun·​cu·​li·​a·​sis drə-ˌkəŋ-kyə-ˈlī-ə-səs How to pronounce dracunculiasis (audio)
: infestation with or disease caused by the Guinea worm that is marked by painful blisters especially on the lower legs or feet from which one or more mature female Guinea worms slowly emerge and that has been eradicated in most regions except Africa

called also Guinea worm disease

Examples of dracunculiasis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This mechanism of infection is employed by a motley crew of microscopic organisms that have adapted to prey upon our unquenchable thirst, from pervasive bacteria like cholera and typhoid to often less famous but no less formidable parasites such as giardia and dracunculiasis. Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2014 After decades of backbreaking work, dracunculiasis is one of two human diseases on the brink of eradication. New York Times, 18 June 2018 The other disease closest to complete eradication is dracunculiasis, better known as Guinea worm disease. Donald G. McNeil Jr., New York Times, 22 Jan. 2018 The last few hundred cases of Guinea worm, or dracunculiasis, the only other disease as close to eradication as polio is, are also confined to Africa. Donald G. McNeil Jr., New York Times, 11 Aug. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dracunculiasis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Dracunculus, the guinea worm genus, from Latin, diminutive of dracon-, draco serpent, dragon — more at dragon

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dracunculiasis was in 1942

Dictionary Entries Near dracunculiasis

Cite this Entry

“Dracunculiasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dracunculiasis. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

dracunculiasis

noun
dra·​cun·​cu·​li·​a·​sis drə-ˌkəŋ-kyə-ˈlī-ə-səs How to pronounce dracunculiasis (audio)
plural dracunculiases -ˌsēz How to pronounce dracunculiasis (audio)
: infestation with or disease caused by the Guinea worm that is marked by painful blisters especially on the lower legs or feet from which one or more mature female Guinea worms slowly emerge

Note: Eradication efforts have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of cases of dracunculiasis from several million per year in Africa and Asia in the 1980s to 28 reported cases in Africa in 2018.

called also Guinea worm disease

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