Guinea Worm
What is Guinea Worm?
For nearly 40 years, we have led the international campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease, working closely with ministries of health and our partners.
Guinea worm disease, or dracunculiasis, is contracted when people consume water from stagnant sources contaminated with Guinea worm larvae.
The parasite’s incubation period is long. That means anyone affected is not aware until about a year after infection, when the adult female Guinea worm – measuring up to 3 feet long – creates a painful blister, often on the leg or foot, and slowly emerges over the course of weeks.
The disease incapacitates people for extended periods. Secondary infections, often caused by traditional efforts to pull the Guinea worm out, compound the suffering and prolong the time of disability.
There is no medicine to treat or vaccine to prevent Guinea worm disease. But the eradication program’s success proves that through strong partnerships, effective education to change behavior, and community-based interventions, we can stop this devastating disease.
“Guinea worm is worse than a knife. The cut of a knife hurts for an instant, but the pain of Guinea worm lasts all day and all night.” Nakopir Natiwi, South Sudanese cattleman Natiwi, who lives in southeastern South Sudan, got the disease by drinking contaminated water.
Guinea worm sufferers may seek relief from the burning sensation caused by the emerging worm by immersing their limbs in water, but this can stimulate the release of larvae from the worm, contaminating the water and beginning the cycle of infection all over again.
Play video: Youthful Energy Tackles Old Problem Efforts to eliminate Guinea worm disease are ongoing in Ethiopia. Learn more about our work there.
Change Begins with Community
Our campaign has helped create health systems in thousands of villages, where education and interventions prevent Guinea worm and other diseases. Change Begins with Community
A Massive Undertaking When our work began in 1986, Guinea worm disease afflicted an estimated 3.5 million people every year in 21 countries in Africa and Asia. Today, thanks to the commitment of The Carter Center and our partners, including the governments of affected countries, Guinea worm disease incidence has been reduced by more than 99.99% — to 10* human cases in 2025. Our sights are trained on eliminating Guinea worm in six African countries: Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan. The eradication campaign’s ultimate success relies on the dedication and attention to detail required of all field supervisors and thousands of community volunteers. A woman in Wau, South Sudan, holds up a cloth water filter used to strain out the parasite that causes Guinea worm disease.
Fueled by Strong Partnerships We spearhead the international Guinea worm eradication campaign and work in close partnership with national programs, the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, and many other partners.
Roles & Responsibilities The Carter Center leads the international Guinea worm eradication campaign, compiles and distributes case numbers, and provides critical technical and financial support to national programs to interrupt disease transmission and bring cases to zero. When transmission is interrupted, the Center provides continued assistance in developing or strengthening surveillance in Guinea worm-free areas and preparing countries for official certification. National Ministries of Health oversee domestic elimination programs in the endemic countries and engage and train field workers and supervisory staff. The World Health Organization is responsible for certifying countries as Guinea worm-free and is the only organization that can officially certify the eradication of a disease. UNICEF mainly assists countries by helping to provide safe sources of drinking water to priority areas identified by the national Guinea worm eradication programs. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides technical assistance and verification on whether worms extracted from patients are truly Guinea worms.
Eradicating Guinea worm disease requires education, teamwork, and advocacy. Community partners and local health ministries help promote behavioral changes by teaching people to filter all drinking water and keep infected people and animals away from water sources. After 37 Years, Guinea Worm Warrior Retires After 37 Years, Guinea Worm Warrior Retires Watch the video Play button A white play button with a black circular background denoting that there is playable content.
Confronting Challenges
Animal Infections
In 2012, Guinea worm was first detected in animals — primarily domesticated dogs in Chad, often because they were eating fish that contained Guinea worm larvae.
Trained volunteers now encourage proper burial of fish waste and offer incentives to people who report infected animals and keep them away from water sources. Scientists are also testing veterinary medications as potential deworming treatments.
Insecurity
Internal conflict in an affected country makes some areas inaccessible. That’s a problem because confirmation of Guinea worm elimination depends on consistent surveillance.
Brink of Eradication
A volunteer in Ethiopia prepares to apply ABATE, a safe larvicide, to a local pond to help interrupt the Guinea worm life cycle. 10* Since our efforts began in 1986, the incidence of Guinea worm has fallen by more than 99.99% to 10* human cases in 2025. Read the press release (opens in new window)
By the Numbers Our strategy is to work with ministries of health to stop the spread of Guinea worm disease by providing health education and helping to maintain political will. 10* Number of human cases reported worldwide between Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2025. *Figures are provisional until officially confirmed, typically in March. View global human cases & animal infections (opens in new window) 6 Number of countries where we fight this disease: Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan. 9.6M Our progress against Guinea worm disease has prevented an estimated 9.6 million years of suffering — time that people can now spend working, learning, and living free from pain. 100M Our work has averted more than 100 million cases of the disease among the world’s most marginalized and neglected people.
Local Heroes Lead Read More Stories (opens in new window) Read more: World NTD Day World NTD Day Every January, we observe World NTD Day to raise awareness of the suffering these diseases create for more than 1 billion people worldwide. Read more: After 37 Years, Guinea Worm Warrior Retires After 37 Years, Guinea Worm Warrior Retires Since the 1980s, Craig Withers has hunted Guinea worms in tens of thousands of African villages, represented former President Jimmy Carter in tense negotiations, and strived to keep more than 3,500 Carter Center staffers safe.
A village resident in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state uses a pipe filter to drink water safely. The device filters out tiny crustaceans that harbor Guinea worm larvae. A parasitologist examines a worm under a microscope in Bongor, Chad. Multiple examination methods are used to confirm specimens are Guinea worms.
Call for New Solutions We are seeking pre-proposals for the development of innovative tools and research that help stop disease transmission. Read Proposal Requirements