GUINEA WORM ON TRACK TO BE 2ND ERADICATED HUMAN DISEASE; ONLY 10 CASES IN 2025

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

The Guinea worm is a parasitic nematode found in waters that contain small crustacean copepods. Humans can ingest them through contaminated water, and this results in painful blisters, usually in the feet and legs, that can cause searing pain as the worms fully emerge. The disease can lead to complications such as secondary infections and sepsis, which can in turn lead to temporary or permanent disability. There were only 10 human cases in three countries in 2025 - down from an estimated 3.5 million cases across 21 countries in 1986.