overview
- Former President Jimmy Carter worked for decades to eradicate Guinea worm disease around the world.
- In 1986, 3.5 million cases of the painful parasitic infection were recorded, but this year there were only 11, according to preliminary data.
- Mr. Carter died on Sunday at the age of 100.
Former President Jimmy Carter aimed to eliminate Guinea worm disease and was close to achieving that goal. Mr. Carter, who passed away at the age of 100, along with his nonprofit organization, the Carter Center, spearheaded a long-term effort against the disease, raising funds, monitoring cases, and contributing to mitigating the epidemic with support from global leaders and health organizations.
Guinea worm infection is caused by a parasite transmitted through contaminated water. When humans ingest the contaminated water, the larvae grow inside the body to about 3 feet in length and then emerge from the body, causing painful blisters that can last for weeks.
By 1986, five years after the end of President Carter’s term, 3.5 million infections were reported worldwide. Adam Weiss, director of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program at the Carter Center, stated that as of early December, only 11 cases had been reported this year, in Chad and South Sudan. That’s a remarkable reduction.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
