The Carter Center announces only 22 cases of flesh-eating Guinea worm disease left—from 3.5 million

[Katashi_itto]

?1452282082
On Thursday, The Carter Center announced that only 22 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported in 2015— a reduction of 83% from 2014. This quite remarkable, as when The Carter Center began leading the international campaign to eradicate the parasitic disease in 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million Guinea worm cases occurring annually in Africa and Asia.

"As we get closer to zero, each case takes on increasing importance. Full surveillance must continue in the few remaining endemic nations and neighboring countries until no cases remain to ensure the disease does not return," said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. "The Carter Center and our partners are committed to seeing that this horrible parasitic disease never afflicts future generations."
jimmy-rosalynn-carter-photo.jpg
Considered a neglected tropical disease, Guinea worm disease (Dracunculiasis) is contracted when people consume water contaminated with Guinea worm larvae. After a year, a meter-long worm slowly emerges from the body through a painful blister in the skin. Guinea worm incapacitates people for weeks or months, making them unable to care for themselves, work, grow food for their families, or attend school.

Without a vaccine or medical treatment, the ancient disease is being wiped out mainly through community-based interventions to educate and change behavior, such as teaching people to filter all drinking water and preventing contamination by keeping anyone with an emerging worm from entering water sources.

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/1/8/1467404/-The-Carter-Center-announces-only-20-Guinea-Worm-Disease-cases-left-from-previous-3-5-million-cases

[saltpoint]

1. Shame on U.S. voters for

sending this man out of office, particularly given the choice they made to replace him.

This story represents a staggering triumph. I suppose it is too much to ask for the worthless Chuck Todd to have on his program one or more of the people who worked to accomplish this goal.

But universal acknowledgement is called for, IMO.

[SusanCalvin]

8. Shame on them for not seeing through the hostages manipulation.

Seems Rs can't win except by stealing.

[Katashi_itto]

11. Agree

[Botany]

2. Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter remind me of my late aunt and uncle

My Uncle John was an Episcopal rector in a small town in s.w. OH and he
and his wife devoted their lives to their families and trying to help people
in need.

This is what what they left their home town.

http://samaritanoutreachservices.com/

We might never see the gift of love that Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter gave the world again.

[Live and Learn]

3. K&R nt

[SoLeftIAmRight]

4. My first vote ever was for President Carter

simply one of our finest

still angry with Americans for not giving him a second term

[dem in texas]

5. President Carter is such a great person and so is his wife.

He has done so many amazing things since he left office. The wiping out of the Guinea worm is like a miracle. I remember seeing a show on TV about his efforts to eradicate the worm and that was at least ten years ago. What a blessing for those people who have to deal with this problem on a daily basis and it took such a small amount of money per person to take care of this horrible affliction.

I wish he'd speak out about the water problem in Flint, Michigan. The local, state and US officials who are responsible for safe water should be put in jail over this. To think that little babies brains have been damaged from drinking the tap water and no one did a thing. It is outrageous. But that is what happens to poor people, the big mucky-mucks don't care about them.

[SusanCalvin]

10. I guess it's possible they might not know about, or at least

not recognize the serious and ongoing nature of the issue, considering how well the M$M keeps us uninformed.

[StevieM]

6. In two years the disease just might be completely eradicated. (eom)

[hibbing]

7. What a legacy to leave

Amazing to get rid of one of the nastiest things I have read about.

Peace

[JDPriestly]

9. K&R. Thanks. President Carter. No subsequent president has been such a good human being.

[niyad]

12. k and r for these truly remarkable people.

[hfojvt]

13. that is pretty darned awesome

and the disease really sounds nasty.

Of course, I do belong to an organization which has greatly reduced Iodine deficiency and is working on eliminating Maternal Neonatal Tetanus.

Although now I say that, I cannot find a source. WHO says it is still a problem, but there is no date on this post http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/idd/en/

They have a database of Iodine deficiency, but it only covers 2006-7.

http://sites.kiwanis.org/Kiwanis/en/theELIMINATEproject/MNT/history/idd.aspx

[Stuart G]

14. He has saved more lives, than the Bush family killed................nt...........and I can prove it.

but not today..sometime in the near future.....and the proof will be clear, and reliable, and everyone will understand it.