Guinea Worm Cases Drop to 10, Nearing Full Eradication

A devastating disease that once infected 3.5 million people every year has been reduced to just 10 cases worldwide, marking one of the greatest public health victories in human history.

Guinea worm disease, a waterborne parasite that causes immense suffering, is now closer than ever to becoming only the second human disease eradicated after smallpox. The 10 cases reported in 2025 represent a 33% drop from the 15 cases in 2024.

The achievement comes exactly one year after the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, who spent four decades leading the charge against this ancient affliction. When the Carter Center launched its eradication campaign in 1986, the disease ravaged 21 countries across Africa and Asia.

The numbers tell an incredible story. More than 100 million cases have been prevented among the world's most marginalized populations over the past 40 years. Today, human cases exist only in South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia, while Mali has now gone two full years without a single infection.

"Guinea worm causes immense suffering, not just for the individual but for their family and community as well," said Adam Weiss, director of the Carter Center Guinea Worm Eradication Program. "Every case is a real person we know by name."

The Ripple Effect

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is how it was accomplished. Guinea worm will be the first parasitic disease ever eradicated and the first eliminated without a medicine or vaccine.

Instead, success came through community partnerships and education. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers were trained to teach prevention methods in their own villages, building trust and changing behaviors that had existed for generations.

The World Health Organization has already certified 200 countries free of Guinea worm. Only six countries remain uncertified, and complete eradication requires zero cases in both humans and animals worldwide.

"This campaign reflects the values that shaped my grandparents' lives: the conviction that hope, hard work, and respect for everyone can change the world," said Jason Carter, the former president's grandson and Carter Center board chair.

Zero is the only acceptable number, and that finish line has never been closer.