ATLANTA — When the Carter Center assumed leadership of the global Guinea Worm Eradication Program in 1986, about 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia were afflicted with the debilitating illness caused by the parasite.
Now, the world might be only a few years away from completely eradicating Guinea worm disease. The Carter Center is reporting that, in 2022, only 13 human cases of the disease were reported worldwide. That’s down from 15 in 2021 and represents the lowest number ever recorded, according to the Carter Center.
“We continue to study ways to defeat and prevent this infection,” said Adam Weiss, director of the Carter Center program. “Community members, ministries of health, and our partners are working with us to implement interventions that are effective, including research to find innovative solutions. We won’t stop until the last Guinea worm is gone.”
