A woman does her washing at a roadside dam in Terkeka County, South Sudan, next to a sign warning that a person with an emerging Guinea worm should not enter the water due to the danger of spreading the water-borne parasitic disease. (Photo: The Carter Center/L. Gubb)
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: 7*
Ethiopia: 0*
Mali: 0*
South Sudan: 3*
*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 2017 Guinea Worm Disease Case Totals
Learn more about the Center's work in each country.
Last update: Aug. 29, 2018
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