Burkina Faso reduces its cases by –54% so far this year As indicated in Figure 1, Burkina Faso has achieved a substantial reduction of –54% in the number of cases of dracunculiasis reported so far in 2002 (302), compared to the 659 cases reported during the first seven months of 2001. The districts of Gorom-Gorom, Gaoua, Batié, Kaya and Ziniaré together reported 60% of all the country’s cases in 2001, and are the focus of intensive efforts this year. Whereas the peak transmission season for the latter three districts is March-July, the peak season for Gorom-Gorom and Gaoua Districts is August-November. Gorom District borders Mali’s Ansongo District (Gao Region) and Niger’s Tera District (Tillabery Region), and Gaoua borders Cote d’Ivoire’s Bouna District, and Ghana’s Upper West Region.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection