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Is guinea worm about to be eradicated?

And what can we learn about how to tackle other diseases?

Guinea worm could soon be the second human disease to be eradicated.

In the 1980s millions of cases were recorded annually in 21 countries in Africa and Asia. Now, thanks to huge efforts globally, only 13 reported cases remain. That’s according to The Carter Center - which is leading the international campaign to eradicate the disease.

If successful, guinea worm will not only be the second disease in history to be eradicated, after smallpox, it will be the first to be wiped out without a vaccine or medicine. Adam Weiss, the director of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program, talks us through the actions they’ve taken to cut cases.

The world is on a mission to eradicate other diseases too, including polio. What can we learn from the potential eradication of guinea worm? Dorcas Wangira, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s Africa Health Correspondent, explains.

Note: This episode contains medical descriptions of removing worms from the human body.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Imogen James, Mora Morrison and Maria Clara Montoya
Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

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15 minutes

Last on

Wed 7 Feb 2024 03:50GMT
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia, West and Central Africa & East Asia only

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    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia, West and Central Africa & East Asia only

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