Eradication of dracunculiasis

Eradication of dracunculiasis is an ongoing program. Dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, is an infection by the Guinea worm that causes severe pain and open wounds when guinea worms exit the body through the skin.[1] In 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases of Guinea worm in 20 endemic nations in Asia and Africa.[2] The number of human cases has since been reduced by more than 99.999%, to the range of 13–15 per year in 2021–2024,[3][4][5] with only six countries remaining to be certified free of transmission: Chad, South Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia, Angola, and Sudan. Of these, only Chad and South Sudan have had human cases reported since the end of 2023. Cameroon has also had some cases in recent years, primarily due to its proximity to Chad, but was previously certified free of internal transmission.

The campaign has been spearheaded by the Carter Center and other members of the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases, with former U.S. president Jimmy Carter as part of its deworming programs, designed to eliminate neglected tropical diseases. Discussing his diagnosis of melanoma (which had metastasized to his brain), Carter said in 2015 that his last wish was to see the last Guinea worm dead before he was.[6] Carter died in 2024 without quite seeing that wish fulfilled.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the recognized international body that certifies whether a disease has been eliminated from a country or eradicated from the world.[7] The WHO renewed its expressed intent to accelerate the eradication of dracunculiasis at its World Health Assembly in May 2025.[8][9] The Carter Center issues frequent reports on the status of the Guinea worm eradication program, including country-by-country statistics.[10]

As of 2024, the WHO goal for eradication in humans and animals is the year 2030. Previously, 1991, 2009, 2015, and 2020 were set as target years,[11] but full eradication of dracunculiasis has proven to be much more difficult than originally thought, after the discovery of non-human animal hosts.[12][13][14] Although the frequency of human cases has plateaued since the beginning of 2021, the frequency of cases in animals has continued to trend downward. Guinea worm is poised to be the second human disease to be eradicated, after smallpox.[15]

  1. ^ "Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) Fact sheet N°359 (Revised)". World Health Organization. March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Guinea Worm Eradication Program". Carter Center. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  3. ^ "Guinea Worm Wrap-Up #306" (PDF). The Carter Center. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  4. ^ "Update: 14 Human Cases of Guinea Worm Reported in 2023 – 13 Human Cases of Guinea Worm Reported in 2022 – Remaining at the Lowest Level Since the Eradication Campaign Began". Carter Center. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  5. ^ "Update: 15 Human Cases of Guinea Worm Reported in 2024". Carter Center. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  6. ^ "President Jimmy Carter's Amazing Last Wish". Vox. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  7. ^ "WHO certifies seven more countries as free of guinea-worm disease". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 2010-05-19. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  8. ^ "Progress for NTDs: two resolutions adopted at WHA78". World Health Organization. 27 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Accelerating the eradication of dracunculiasis" (PDF). World Health Organization. 27 May 2025.
  10. ^ "Activities by Country – Guinea Worm Eradication Program". Carter Center. Archived from the original on 2009-05-19. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference npr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference carter2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference cartercenter.org was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference wrapup235 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "The Statesman vs. the Fiery Serpent". Emory Health Digest. Winter 2024.
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