Despite Success, More Work to be Done Fighting Guinea Worm
2023-01-29
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1The Carter Center said recently that only 13 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide last year.
2That is a major drop from 3.5 million cases of infected people in 1986.
3These early numbers are expected to be confirmed in the coming months.
4Still, the Carter Center, founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Eleanor Rosalynn Carter, said the last part of the international effort to end the parasitic disease will be "the most difficult."
5Guinea worm is a disease that affects poor communities in distant parts of Africa and Asia that do not have safe water to drink.
6People who drink unclean water can get parasites that can grow up to 1 meter.
7The worm grows in people for up to a year before painfully coming out, often through the feet or other sensitive parts of the body.
8The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is neither a drug treatment for Guinea worm disease nor a vaccine to prevent it.
9Guinea worm disease can be prevented by training people to filter and drink clean water.
10In 1986, the Atlanta-based Carter Center joined the WHO and UNICEF in the fight against Guinea worm disease.
11The center said the remaining infections occurred in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
12Six human cases were reported in Chad, five in South Sudan, one in Ethiopia and one in the Central African Republic.
13The Central African Republic case remains under investigation.
14Adam Weiss is the director of The Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication Program.
15Weiss told The Associated Press that the final efforts to eradicate, or completely end, the disease could be difficult.
16Weiss said the populations where Guinea worm still exists often face insecurity, including conflict, which can prevent workers and volunteers from going house to house to offer support.
17Weiss cautioned if support for these communities slows or stops "there's no question that you're going to see a surge in Guinea worm."
18He added, "We're continuing to make progress, even if it is not as fast as we all want it to be, but that progress continues."
19Guinea worm could be the second human disease to be ended after smallpox, says The Carter Center.
20I'm John Russell.
1The Carter Center said recently that only 13 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide last year. That is a major drop from 3.5 million cases of infected people in 1986. 2These early numbers are expected to be confirmed in the coming months. Still, the Carter Center, founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Eleanor Rosalynn Carter, said the last part of the international effort to end the parasitic disease will be "the most difficult." 3Guinea worm is a disease that affects poor communities in distant parts of Africa and Asia that do not have safe water to drink. People who drink unclean water can get parasites that can grow up to 1 meter. The worm grows in people for up to a year before painfully coming out, often through the feet or other sensitive parts of the body. 4The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is neither a drug treatment for Guinea worm disease nor a vaccine to prevent it. Guinea worm disease can be prevented by training people to filter and drink clean water. 5In 1986, the Atlanta-based Carter Center joined the WHO and UNICEF in the fight against Guinea worm disease. The center said the remaining infections occurred in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Six human cases were reported in Chad, five in South Sudan, one in Ethiopia and one in the Central African Republic. The Central African Republic case remains under investigation. 6Adam Weiss is the director of The Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication Program. Weiss told The Associated Press that the final efforts to eradicate, or completely end, the disease could be difficult. 7Weiss said the populations where Guinea worm still exists often face insecurity, including conflict, which can prevent workers and volunteers from going house to house to offer support. 8Weiss cautioned if support for these communities slows or stops "there's no question that you're going to see a surge in Guinea worm." He added, "We're continuing to make progress, even if it is not as fast as we all want it to be, but that progress continues." 9Guinea worm could be the second human disease to be ended after smallpox, says The Carter Center. 10I'm John Russell. 11Alex Sanz reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 12________________________________________________________________ 13Words in This Story 14worm - n. an infection or a disease caused by tiny worms that live inside the body of an animal or person 15parasite - n. an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal or plant and gets food or protection from it 16filter - v. to pass (something, such as a gas or liquid) through a filter to remove something unwanted 17surge - n. a sudden, large increase