A Historic Step Toward a World Without Guinea Worm

Image credit: The Carter Center

The world has reached a deeply encouraging milestone in the fight against Guinea worm disease: only 10 human cases were reported globally in 2025, the lowest total ever recorded.

That remarkable figure represents a 33% drop from the 15 cases reported in 2024 and brings humanity closer than ever to eliminating an ancient disease that once caused suffering on a massive scale.

The Carter Center shared the news in a statement marking a meaningful moment in the campaign’s history. The announcement came one year after the passing of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who devoted decades of effort to ending Guinea worm disease, and 40 years after he first began championing the cause.

When The Carter Center launched its Guinea worm eradication campaign in 1986, the situation looked vastly different. At that time, an estimated 3.5 million people were infected each year across 21 countries in Africa and Asia.

Since then, through determined cooperation with national governments, local communities, health workers, and global partners, the number of human cases has fallen by more than 99.99%. The Carter Center estimates that more than 100 million cases have been prevented among some of the world’s most vulnerable and overlooked communities.

“Guinea worm causes immense suffering—not just for the individual but for their family and community as well,” said Adam Weiss, director of the Carter Center Guinea Worm Eradication Program.

“Every case is a real person we know by name. They are enduring a disease we know how to prevent, and we’ve been given this rare opportunity to wipe it out completely. We’re energized by this year’s progress, but zero is the only acceptable number, and that’s why our commitment to finishing this job is unwavering.”

The progress is extraordinary not only because Guinea worm may become just the second human disease ever eradicated, after smallpox, but also because it would be the first parasitic disease eliminated in history. Even more inspiring, this campaign has moved forward without a vaccine or medicine to stop the disease.

Instead, success has grown from practical prevention, education, community trust, and dedicated local action. The Carter Center notes that hundreds of thousands of community-based volunteers have been trained to share health information and support behavior changes that help stop transmission.

The remaining challenge is clear. Guinea worm can infect both people and animals, meaning eradication requires ending infections in every affected group. While human cases are now extraordinarily rare, hundreds of animal infections are still detected each year.

In 2025, human cases were reported only in South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia. Mali, meanwhile, has reached another hopeful benchmark, recording zero human cases for the second consecutive year.

Before Guinea worm disease can officially be declared eradicated, every country in the world must be certified free of both human and animal infections, including nations where the disease has never been known to spread. So far, the World Health Organization has certified 200 countries as free of Guinea worm. Only six remain uncertified.

For the Carter family, the achievement reflects a legacy rooted in service and optimism.

“This campaign reflects the values that shaped my grandparents’ lives—the conviction that hope, hard work, and respect for everyone can change the world,” said Jason Carter, Carter Center board chair and eldest grandchild of President and Mrs. Carter.

“Seeing Guinea worm cases reach historic lows is one of the clearest expressions of that legacy and our commitment to the communities where trust has been earned.”

With only 10 human cases reported worldwide, the dream of a future free from Guinea worm disease is now beautifully close.