Just 14 cases: Guinea worm disease nears eradication, thanks to a 40-year campaign to prevent transmission
Credit: Maggie Fick/AP/Shutterstock
“It’s pretty amazing,” says Adam Weiss, director of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program of the Carter Center, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The centre announced the numbers in late January. “Fourteen people on a planet of almost eight billion. It’s mind-bending to think about.” But the recognizable nature of Guinea worm disease also makes the parasite easy to detect. In Chad, where 7 of the 14 cases were reported last year, field agents create a network to track contaminated water sources, says Philippe Tchindebet Ouakou, the coordinator of the nation’s Guinea Worm Eradication Program, who is based in N’Djamena. They then prevent people from drinking the contaminated water and use pesticides to disinfect it.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Just 14 cases: Guinea worm disease nears eradicationA scourge that once infected millions of the world’s poorest people is close to being wiped out in humans — but infections in animals complicates the picture.
Read more »
Bay Area urban winery shutters after 14 years in AlamedaThe winery first opened in 2008.
Read more »
14 designer clutches worth your investment: YSL, Bottega, moreThe trusty handheld you’ve been wanting is in this edit.
Read more »
14 Seafood Dinners That Cost Less Than $3 to MakePro tip: Don't shy away from canned fish! It can be just as delicious as the fresh cuts.
Read more »
Alienware’s thin, 14-inch X14 gaming laptop is now availableThis USB-C-powered gaming laptop is here
Read more »