Sunday, December 07, 2008

"Guinea worm 'almost eradicated'"


The BBC quotes Jimmy Carter as announcing that Guinea Worm is expected to be eradicated from the entire world in two years. if so, it will be the second disease to be eradicated by modern public health, following smallpox.
Only 4,410 cases were reported worldwide during the first ten months of this year, with 80% found in Sudan.

The Carter Center, established by the former president and his wife to help fight disease and champion voting and human rights around the world, says this is a dramatic drop from the 3.5m cases in 20 nations that were reported when the eradication campaign began in 1986.
Comment: This is a great accomplishment of the Carter Center! While this tropical disease is little known in the United States, it has caused great suffering in Africa and South Asia.

Dr. Donald Hopkins, currently a Vice President of the Carter Center, deserves much of the credit for this success. When he began the campaign to eradicate Guinea Worm, his was a voice in the wilderness. He has worked for decades to achieve this end; I remember him bending my ear on the topic in 1976 when I worked with him in the White House. Congratulations Don!!!
JAD

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