Nicholas Kristof—Winning the Guinea Worm War

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Since ancient times, one of the world’s most terrifying ailments has been caused by what the Bible calls “the fiery serpent,” now known as Guinea worm.

Guinea worms grow up to a yard long inside the body and finally poke out through the skin. They cause excruciating pain and must be pulled out slowly, an inch or two a day. In endemic areas like this district in Lakes State of southern Sudan, people can have a dozen Guinea worms dangling from their bodies.

Yet this is a good news column.

This district is, in fact, one of the last places on earth with Guinea worms. If all goes well, Guinea worms will be eradicated worldwide in the next couple of years — only the second disease ever to be eliminated, after smallpox.

For the last 24 years, former President Jimmy Carter has led the global struggle against the disease. When he started, there were 3.5 million cases annually in 20 countries. Last year, there were fewer than 3,200 cases in four countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali and Sudan. The great majority of the remaining cases are here in southern Sudan.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Health & Medicine • Poverty • * International News & Commentary • Africa • Sudan

7 Comments
Posted April 30, 2010 at 9:02 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Ralph wrote:

Since ancient times, one of the world’s most terrifying ailments has been caused by what the Bible calls “the fiery serpent,” now known as Guinea worm.

This is an interesting article about an important health topic. However, there is no scientific or other evidence proving that the “sarap nachash” of Num 21:6 is the guinea worm. It’s only speculation.

April 30, 9:24 am | [comment link]
2. evan miller wrote:

At last!  Mr. Carter has accomplished something worthwhile!  Good for him.

April 30, 10:30 am | [comment link]
3. Katherine wrote:

I often criticize Mr. Carter for almost everything, but this is an accomplishment towards which his foundation has worked for many years.  This is a very good thing and he deserves respect for what he has done on this issue.

April 30, 12:19 pm | [comment link]
4. New Reformation Advocate wrote:

Well, evan and Katherine,

I’m no great Carter fan (although he was the last Democrat I ever voted for in a presidential election).  But wouldn’t you both agree that Carter’s fervent, dedicated support of Habitat for Humanity’s work over the years also merits praise?  No other celebrity figure has devoted himself to the fight against homelessness the way that Jimmy Carter has consistently done for many years.

Alas, he’s a MUCH, much better EX-president than he was a president.  Unfortunately, political skills and effectiveness don’t always go along with piety.  I don’t think there’s any real doubt that Carter was a much more mature, dedicated Christian than Ronald Reagan.  Carter was a much better Christian, but Reagan was a much better president.  Such are the ironies of history and life.

David Handy+

April 30, 2:11 pm | [comment link]
5. evan miller wrote:

Fr. Handy,

I do applaud his long-time promotion of Habitat for Humanity and agree that he appears to be one of the more sincere Christian presidents within my memory.  But he was a disaster as president and, in my opinion, has been rather a disaster as an ex-president as well, his Guinea worm and Habitat work notwithstanding.

April 30, 2:23 pm | [comment link]
6. robroy wrote:

Am reading, “The Gift of Pain” by Dr. Paul Brand and Phillip Yancey. In the beginning of the book, Brand describes growing up the son of missionaries in India. He describes how his father had become very adept at spooling the worm up on a stick, a slow and laborious process. Brand states that his mom was never as good as his dad in doing this.

April 30, 6:35 pm | [comment link]
7. Jeremy Bonner wrote:

NRA (#4),

Shades of Charles I: “A pity that so good a man should be so bad a king!”

May 1, 9:37 am | [comment link]
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