Nkwanta, Jan 22, GNA - Guinea worm cases in the Nkwanta District have dropped from 171 cases in 2005 to 44 in 2006, a 74.2 percent reduction.

Mr Issaka Adamu, the District Disease Control Officer of the Ghana Health Service, attributed the decline to collaboration and commitment of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Peace Corp Volunteers, GHS staff and communities.

He told the GNA in an interview at Nkwanta that intensive community education and advocacy were among strategies adopted and it was possible that with the same commitment the district might record no cases this year.

He said case studies indicated that most of the 44 infected people got the disease when they took in polluted water while out of the district to endemic areas for funerals or other social commitments. Mr Adamu expressed fears that people from other districts incubating the disease would move to Nkwanta District this year to farm and contaminate water source they come into contact with. He said conflict in endemic areas surrounding Nkwanta District could also lead to movement of people incubating the disease into other districts.

Mr Adamu said Nanumba North, Nkwanta South and Krachi-East districts are endemic areas.