Guinea worm: Close to eradication? [video]

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/lifelines/2014/04/guinea-worm-close-eradication-201443142217780153.html

by BruceM • 12 years ago

17 14 12 years ago

BruceM• 12 years ago

While horrifying, this was pretty interesting. The ability to interrupt the cycle of the worm with existing technology is inspiring.

ars3• 12 years ago

They say eradication, but that's the same thing as extinction.

Is this worm being preserved in any way? Perhaps as frozen eggs?

presidentender• 12 years ago

There's an organization which offers to allow volunteers to serve as hosts in order to preserve the species: http://www.deadlysins.com/guineaworm/preservers.htm

hnriot• 12 years ago

are they serious? people really volunteer for that? while I'm with Douglas Adam's in that we should try to save the black rhino, I have no problem with a disgusting parasitic worm going extinct, since it has little to no effect on the earth's ecology since it only seems to enjoy humans as its host.

that site really does show the diversity of the internet. what did these freaks do before the Well, AOL and now the web!

thaumasiotes2• 12 years ago

It's worth pointing out that Save the Guinea Worm Foundation is a joke site (and note that they specifically point out they're not accepting volunteers), while your parent comment appears, worryingly, to be serious.

http://www.deadlysins.com/guineaworm/truth.htm

sigterm2• 12 years ago

Too bad you are being downvoted so heavily by asking a legitimate question. I think it does make sense to preserve as much genetic materials on earth as possible, regardless of what the species does to human. Considering we made sure to obtain the full genome sequence of smallpox virus before destroying all samples in labs, why can't we save some of the worm too. Maybe one day we might find a particular feature of the worm useful.

ForHackernews2• 12 years ago

We haven't actually destroyed all the smallpox virus samples, yet. There is one CDC lab in the US and one lab in Russia that have living samples: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-04/smallpox-destr...

ForHackernews2• 12 years ago

This has been a major goal of Jimmy Carter and his foundation. Further evidence that he's our best ex-president.

healthenclave• 12 years ago

Guinea worm have been eradicated already from many developing countries for quite some time now. Eg: they were eradicated roughly in the 1970's from India.

Mostly only some African countries still have endemic of Guinea worm. Step wells contributed a large part to the propagation of disease.

Guinea worm: Close to eradication? [video]

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