Spring 2008: Of Note

This Carter Center graphic shows the progress from 3.5 million cases in 20 countries in 1986 to less than 10,000 today.

Carter Center campaign closing in on Guinea Worm

The global Guinea Worm Eradication Program of The Carter Center reports that four new countries ended transmission of the parasitic disease last year—Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo.

World leaders of the campaign joined former President Jimmy Carter on April 2 in Abuja, Nigeria, for the announcement.

“With the historic success of the Guinea worm campaign this year,” Carter said, “comes my renewed hope that Rosalynn and I will see this horrible affliction relegated to the history books within our lifetimes.”

Guinea worm disease, which causes severe pain and economic hardship, once plagued millions in Africa and Asia. Only five endemic countries remain.