Guinea Worm Disease:  Nigeria's Last Case

Once the most endemic country for Guinea worm disease in the world, Nigeria declares victory in its 20-year war.

"We are staring history in the face as the public health system of Nigeria is about to make a bold statement of eradicating Guinea worm disease in Nigeria after many years; over two decades of hard fought battle against Guinea worm have now succeeded in defeating it." -Nigeria former Head of State General Dr.  Yakubu Gowon

The Nigeria Ministry of Health has brought the country to this watershed moment with leading assistance from The Carter Center and support from other partners. "I congratulate Nigeria on this amazing accomplishment," said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. "It would not have been possible without the tenacity of thousands of Nigerians for more than 20 years." 

Nigeria joins 15 other countries that have rid themselves of Guinea worm disease since 1986. Niger, Nigeria's north­ern neighbor, also eliminated the disease in 2008, and thus reported zero cases for the first time in 2009. It is estimated that in 2009, fewer than 3,500 cases of the disease remain in four African countries.

While Nigeria continues surveillance for Guinea worm disease over the next three years so that it can be officially certified by the World Health Organization as free of the disease, experts are focusing on how to repeat Nigeria's success in the last strongholds of the disease in southern Sudan, northern Ghana, and eastern Mali. Meanwhile, Ethiopia is fighting just a few remaining cases.