LAGOS, Feb. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- The Nigerian government has virtually eradicated the Guinea worm scourge in the northwestern state of Kebbi, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported on Sunday.

    Alhaji Adamu Aliero, governor of Kebbi state, was quoted as saying that "we have virtually eradicated guinea worm in the state."

    Last June, 17 cases of Guinea worm, a parasite that can grow toa length of almost a meter inside the human body, have been reported in the state.

    "We have not received any report of its outbreak from any part of the state since the beginning of this year unlike the situationin the past," he said, adding that every community prone to the disease in the state had been provided with safe drinking water.

    Eradication efforts prompted the number of Guinea worm cases in Nigeria to drop from some 600,000 in 1987 to 1,460 in 2003. However, 16 of the nation's 36 states still suffer from the water-borne disease.

    Guinea worm disease, also called dracunculiasis, is transmitted by drinking containing water fleas that are infected with the eventinier larvae of a parasitic worm.

    Inside the human body, the larvae mature, growing as long as three feet (about one meter). After a year, the worm emerges through the skin, usually at the feet, causing long-term suffering and sometimes crippling after-effects. As yet, there is no cure for the victims and no medicine to prevent infection.

    The governor said that his administration had equally resolved to provide potable water to every community having a population of 500 people.

    "We have also received 480 water pumps from the federal ministry of water resources. These will further assist in the provision of potable water to the people of the state," he stressed.

    Aliero said that the state government had also embarked on water expansion programs in Zuru, Ya'uri and Argungu local government areas.

    "My administration has awarded contracts for the water expansion program in Argungu at the cost of 150 million naira (about 1.1 million US dollars), Zuru 120 million naira (about 910,000 dollars), and Ya'uri 130 million (about 984,000 dollars)," he said.

    An estimated 35,000 people in 13 African countries still suffer from Guinea worm disease, which has been eradicated elsewhere in the world. Enditem