RIVER BLINDNESS

young children leading blind adults.

Disease: Onchocerciasis, more commonly known as River Blindness, is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in the world. It is an infection caused by a parasitic worm, and it is spread through the bite of the black fly. There are currently 37 million people infected with the parasite, and 99% of those people live in sub-Saharan Africa.
How it's spread: As the black fly (the vector) bites an infected person, the worms travel from the infected person to the body of the fly. The black fly then bites another person, and the worms travel from the fly to the second person. A person must be bitten more than once, however, to contract the infection. Once inside the body, the worms mate and create millions of offspring, which invade various parts of the body, including the eyes. As the offspring die off, the body has an inflammatory response. On the skin, this response causes severe rashes, and in the eyes, it causes blindness.
Effects: The social and economic effects of this infection are tremendous. Adults are unable to work because of visual impairment, and children are unable to go to school because they must help their parents. The cycle of poor education, poverty, and bad health continues, and entire communities ultimately suffer.
Cure: One dose per year of a drug called Ivermectin prevents the worms from reproducing in the body, and thus prevents the onset of symptoms and further transmission. The drug company Merck currently donates doses of the drug in many countries. To date, they have donated over 600 million doses. Although the treatment is so simple and economical, millions of people continue to suffer.
Recent news about River Blindness:
River Blindness Can Be Eradicated
River Blindness Can Be Stopped by Drugs

If YOU want to help do something about River Blindness, YOU can support these organizations:
The Carter Center
Helen Keller International (be sure to type in “Onchocerciasis” in the "Program to Support" field)
Living Water International