What is a guinea worm?
Guinea worm disease is contracted through the consumption of drinking water that is contaminated with microscopic water fleas carrying infective larvae. The debilitating effects of Guinea worm disease include infections, ulcers and arthritis. According to The Carter Center, through tireless public health efforts, Guinea worm is set to become only the second disease to be eliminated from the world and the first parasitic disease to be eliminated. Worldwide cases of Guinea worm disease have been reduced by 98 percent. The number of humans infected with Guinea worm disease dropped from an estimated 3.5 million in 1986 to approximately 35,000 reported in 2003. Further, the World Bank estimates that the return on investment in Guinea worm eradication will be nearly 29 percent per year once the disease is completely eliminated.
