2008 marked a great achievement at eradicating a painful, systemic parasitic disease called Guinea worm.

In 1986 3.5 million cases in 20 nations were reported. In 2008, the number fell to 4,410 cases in six countries, thanks largely to the work of The Carter Center and funding by the British government and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"Our record on Guinea worm for the last few years has been steadily and rapidly downward," former U.S. President Carter told the AP.

By 2009, public health officials hope to officially eradicate the disease, making the Guinea worm one of a few diseases (such as small pox) to officially be eliminated from the world.

People ingest the Guinea worm as larvae in contaminated drinking water. In a year's time the worm can grow to be three feet long before slowly burrowing out of the skin.

According to reports by the AP, the disease is not fatal but can cause excruciating pain for months.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/YearInReview/Story?id=6512364&page=3