Brazzaville, 7 April  2014 - The above headline would have been unimaginable 30 years ago when Guinea-worm disease (GWD) was robust, alive and well in much of Africa.

At the start of the Guinea -worm Eradication Progrmme in the 1980s,  about 20 African countries were endemic for the disease and the world counted 3.5 million cases of GWD annually. However, in 2014, all indications are that this ancient scourge is about to be consigned to history in Africa - and planet Earth - for good!

Specifically,  as  at 28 February 2014, only 3 cases were recorded globally. Are the days of  GWD disease numbered ?