The World Health Organization had hoped to eradicate the painful parasite by 2020. That deadline just got moved a decade into the future. And dogs are part of the problem.
Despite an ongoing civil war, South Sudan has successfully stopped transmission of the horrific parasite. The milestone means the worm is circulating in only three countries.
Health officials thought they were close to wiping out the parasite. It's been President Carter's dream for decades. But the dogs of Chad have turned out to be a major problem.
Scientist Peter Hotez has spent nearly 40 years trying to treat and eliminate the diseases that worms can cause. And he won't let the "ick" factor stop him.
The former president is now fighting cancer. For the past 30 years, he has fought to wipe out diseases that plague millions of people. The efforts have brought one parasite to the edge of eradication.
We've eradicated smallpox. But we can only hope to control malaria. A new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History explains how disease fighters set and pursue their goals.
Those words were written on a poster that greeted the former president on a visit to Nigeria. His Carter Center has vowed to wipe out the nasty worm. And right now we're down to 126 cases.
