the carter center began spearheading the campaign to eradicate guinea worm disease worldwide in 1986. at the time, there were about 3.5 million annual cases of the disease in 20 countries in africa and asia. in 2016 there were 25 reported cases in three countries: south sudan, chad and ethiopia. guinea worm disease is poised to be the first parasitic disease to be eradicated and the only disease to be eradicated without the use of vaccines or drugs.