Water is pulled from a protected well in Tarakoh village, Chad, in April 2018. Clean, safe drinking water is key to interrupting transmission of Guinea worm disease; up to 40 percent of villages in affected areas of Chad lack safe water sources. (Photo: The Carter Center/J. Hahn)
When The Carter Center began leading the international campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease in 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases in 21 countries in Africa and Asia. Today, that number has been reduced by more than 99.99 percent.
In 2017, 30 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide.
Angola: 1*^
Chad: 17*
Ethiopia: 0*
Mali: 0*
South Sudan: 10*
*Note: These numbers are provisional until certified.
^ Preliminary investigations of the single Angola case do not indicate current or historical evidence of transmission in Angola.
For the official monthly updates on the Carter Center's reporting of Guinea worm disease cases, read Guinea Worm Wrap-Up >
Press release: Announcement for 2018 Guinea Worm Disease Case Totals
Learn more about the Center's work in each country.
Last update: Jan. 17, 2019
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