Multimedia

Countdown to Zero: A Case Study in South Sudan

What does it take to defeat infectious diseases in the most remote areas of the world? See Carter Center-supported health care workers and community educators on the front lines in South Sudan, working to track, contain, and extract every Guinea worm in order to wipe out this devastating parasitic disease.

When former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and The Carter Center began leading a coordinated program against Guinea worm disease in 1986, about 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia were estimated to be infected. Today that number has been reduced by 99.99 percent, and in 2014, only 126 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide.

This short video was produced in collaboration with The Carter Center for an exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History titled Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease. The exhibit explores the factors that determine if a disease is eradicable — meaning that it can be wiped out completely — as well as the scientific and social innovations that are ridding the world of ancient afflictions.

Related Resources
Visit the American Museum of Natural History exhibition information: http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/upcoming-exhibitions/countdown-to-zero

View photos and artifacts from the exhibit: http://wp.me/pIsMu-1og

Learn more about the Carter Center’s Guinea Worm Eradication Program: http://www.cartercenter.org/guineaworm

Press Releases
CARTER CENTER: 126 Cases of Guinea Worm Disease Remain Worldwide: http://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/gw-worldwide-cases-Jan2015.html

Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease on View at the American Museum of Natural History: http://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/guinea-worm-AMNH-exhibit-opening-011215.html