Onchocerciasis – river blindness programme

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease caused by the filarial nematode worm Onchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted to humans by black flies (genus Simulium) and can cause severe skin and eye disease, including blindness. The disease is commonly known as “river blindness” because the larvae of the blackfly vectors breed in fast flowing rivers. Onchocerciasis is endemic in Africa.