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	Podcast:		The Guardian's Science Weekly
	Episode:		Can we eradicate a second human disease?
	Category:		Religion & Spirituality
	Duration:		00:15:37
	Publish Date:		2026-04-07 04:00:38
	Description:		The number of human cases of guinea worm, a painful and debilitating tropical illness, fell to a record low of just 10 last year, according to the Carter Centre, the foundation set up by the late former US president Jimmy Carter. But despite years-long declines, it remains almost impossible to completely eradicate the parasite. Only one human illness has been entirely eradicated: smallpox. Why is it so difficult, and could guinea worm one day be the second? Ian Sample hears from co-host Madeleine Finlay, and David Molyneux, emeritus professor of tropical disease microbiology at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
	Total Play:		0