Jimmy Carter’s Legacy: Near-Eradication of Guinea Worm Disease

The former U.S. president’s decades-long campaign reduced Guinea worm cases from millions to just seven in 2024, transforming global health efforts.

Jimmy Carter, who passed away at age 100, dedicated nearly 40 years to eradicating Guinea worm disease, a painful parasitic infection afflicting the world’s poorest communities.
The Carter Center's efforts reduced Guinea worm cases from 3.5 million in 1986 to just seven reported cases worldwide in 2024, with full eradication targeted by 2030.
Carter’s approach relied on low-tech, community-driven solutions such as water filtration, larvicide treatments, and education, making it a model for tackling other neglected tropical diseases.
The campaign also addressed diseases like river blindness, trachoma, and lymphatic filariasis, helping 22 countries eliminate at least one disease within their borders.
Carter’s hands-on involvement, from visiting afflicted villages to negotiating ceasefires in conflict zones, brought global attention and resources to neglected health crises.