Fighting Disease:  Cameroon

Eradicating Guinea Worm Disease

Current Status: Transmission stopped, 1997
Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication: 2007

For the most current Guinea worm case reports, read the Guinea Worm Wrap-Up newsletter >

Dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, is a preventable parasitic infection contracted when a person ingests drinking water from stagnant sources containing copepods (commonly referred to as water fleas) that harbor infective Guinea worm larvae. Inside a person's body, the larvae grow for a year, becoming thin threadlike worms up to 1 meter long. These worms create agonizingly painful blisters in the skin through which they slowly exit the body, preventing the victim from attending school, caring for children, or harvesting crops. Learn more about the historic Carter Center-led campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease >

Since 1986, the Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication Program has led a world coalition fighting to eradicate Guinea worm disease. In 1989, Cameroon began hosting events, today known as National Guinea Worm Days, specifically organized to increase awareness about the disease and promote prevention techniques. In 2007, the World Health Organization certified Cameroon as free of Guinea worm disease.

Although there is no cure, chemically treating ponds, straining water with a special nylon filter, boiling it, or providing clean water from borehole wells can help prevent the disease. In addition, local regional health care workers and village-based volunteers report cases and educate others about the disease.

The provision of a safe water supply was especially problematic in Kangaleri, the most endemic village in Cameroon. The water table was more than 100 meters below the surface, making drilling a well extremely difficult.

In 1994, a cash reward system was initiated in which 2,000 CFA francs – about USD$4 – was offered for cases reported before the worm emerged. Patients who accepted containment measures until complete emergence of their worms were given 3,000 francs. A prize of 30,000 to 40,000 francs was awarded to any village that successfully contained all cases.

Eliminating Guinea worm disease in Cameroon has meant that thousands of Cameroonians were spared suffering from this painful disease. More children are attending school, and more adults are able to work in their farms. Entire communities have been positively affected.

The Carter Center held a special ceremony in Atlanta in 2000 to honor Cameroon, Senegal, Chad, Yemen, Pakistan, India, and Kenya as having reached a milestone in Guinea worm eradication efforts. These nations were the first among the 21 endemic countries to stop transmission of Guinea worm disease for at least one year. Read Nations Celebrate Progress Against Guinea Worm (PDF) >

Learn more about the Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication Program in Cameroon (in search result format) >