Carter Center launches new campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease

The Carter Center just announced a new $40 million fundraising campaign toward eradicating Guinea worm disease. The Emory University-based center, which was founded by former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter to address human rights challenges, has been campaigning to end the disease caused by the parasitic worm since 1986. In that time, it has also helped spur progress: Some 3.5 million people had the disease three decades ago, but so far this year, some 36 cases were reported worldwide. People get sick when they drink water infected with Guinea worm, and better sanitation is one of the key challenges to eliminating the disease. Still, experts believe eradication is possible, and it would be the second human disease, besides smallpox, to achieve that status.