Guinea worm on track to be 2nd eradicated human disease; only 10 cases in 2025

The Guinea worm disease, caused by the parasitic Guinea worm, is on the verge of being eradicated, with only 10 cases reported globally in 2025, as revealed by the Carter Center. This remarkable progress could make it only the second human disease to be completely eradicated, following the successful elimination of smallpox. The Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) is a parasitic nematode that is transmitted through contaminated water. Specifically, it thrives in water sources infested with small crustaceans known as copepods, which carry the larvae. When individuals drink this contaminated water, the parasites enter the body, burrowing through the intestinal tract before emerging as a long, painful worm from blisters on the skin, typically on the feet or legs. The emergence can take up to eight weeks, during which the affected individuals often seek relief by immersing their limbs in water, inadvertently aiding the cycle by allowing the parasite to release more larvae. The disease, known as dracunculiasis, is not only excruciatingly painful but can also lead to severe complications, including secondary infections and sepsis, resulting in temporary or even permanent disabilities. Since the inception of the Guinea worm eradication initiative in 1986, there has been a dramatic decline from an estimated 3.5 million cases across 21 countries in Africa and Asia to just a handful of cases today. Currently, only six countries remain uncertified by the World Health Organization as free of Guinea worm disease. In 2024, the reported cases stood at 15, and the latest provisional figures for 2025 indicate a decrease to just 10. These numbers will be finalized following confirmation from each country's disease reports, typically discussed at a program meeting held in April each year.