Guinea Worm Disease Is Nearly Extinct

Just 22 years ago, the disease was tough for most Africans to avoid: around 3.5 million cases of the parasitic infection were diagnosed in 1986. Now, Guineau worm disease has been nearly eradicated.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on December 15 2008

Unless you live in Africa, you’ve probably never heard of Guineau worm disease (also known as dracunculiasis). Just 22 years ago, the disease was tough for most Africans to avoid: around 3.5 million cases of the parasitic infection were diagnosed in 1986. Though rarely fatal, Guineau worm disease can cause fevers, blisters, and severe pain in those afflicted.

But today, thanks to more than two decades’ worth of research and health services funded by former President Jimmy Carter’s Carter Center, the disease is on its way out of Africa, and the world at large: there are now only 5,000 known cases of Guineau worm disease. The Carter Center believes that once these cases are treated, the disease will be eradicated completely.

Although medical teams have led the effort to end the disease, “the key heroes in this entire effort have been the local villagers ... who have performed brilliantly to cut this disease down by 99 percent,” President Carter said at a news conference.

“These last few cases are the most difficult,” he added. “But we won’t stop until the last case is gone.”

Filed under: General Interest, Health and Wellbeing, Non-Profits, Science,

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