Global health

Guinea Worm Disease Fell From 3.5 Million Cases To Just 10

No drug, no vaccine — about to be the second human disease ever wiped out, after smallpox.

By the NoBadNews desk · Published 2026-07-06 · Updated 2026-07-08

How many guinea worm cases were there in 2025?

There were just 10 human cases of guinea worm disease worldwide in 2025 (Chad 4, Ethiopia 4, South Sudan 2) — down from about 3.5 million a year in 1986, a drop of more than 99.99%, per the Carter Center.

Remarkably, it's being beaten with no drug and no vaccine — only clean-water education, cloth water filters, and tracking down every single case. If the count holds, guinea worm becomes the second human disease ever eradicated, after smallpox. The 2025 figure is provisional until each country confirms it.

Source: The Carter Center · Image: AI illustration of real verified news (our method).

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