B72: Dracunculiasis
The Guinea worm is common in some sub-Saharan countries in Africa. The Guinea worm is a parasite that occurs in water fleas. Parasites are small creatures that, at least for periods of time, live off other creatures. In humans they can cause illnesses. Water fleas are very small creatures that inhabit water. You can become infected by swallowing infected fleas along with drinking water.
In the stomach the worms are released from the water fleas. Within a few months the worms can move out of the stomach to the tissue of the skin. Typically, the leg or foot is affected. Around a year after swallowing them a painful, burning blister forms on the skin. A single worm will then come to the surface there within a few days. You may then also get a fever, itchy skin or painful joints.
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