Inside a human's abdomen, the larvae mature and grow, some as long as three feet. After a year, the worm slowly emerges through an agonizingly painful blister in the skin. Some worms can be as long as three feet and can take up to two months to be completely expunged. The burning sensation caused by the emerging worm leads many victims to immerse their limbs in water, seeking relief, but the cycle of infection only begins again as the worm releases more larvae into the water. But the challenge lays in educating villagers to always filter their water and ensuring they have the necessary filters to do so.
Some villagers believe Guinea worm is the result of scorcery.
Carter Center staff visits villages with educational materials to explain the cause of Guinea worm and to treat those infected. The Center also treats stagnant ponds with monthly larvacide treatments.