Onchocerca volvulus is a parasitic worm transmitted by the blackfly, causing onchocerciasis or river blindness. The larvae, known as microfilariae, migrate through the skin and eyes, causing severe itching, skin discoloration, and, in advanced cases, blindness. River blindness is prevalent in regions of Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, where the blackfly thrives near fast-flowing rivers. The disease has a devastating impact on affected communities, with blindness and skin disease leading to social stigma and reduced quality of life.
Eliminating Onchocerca volvulus from the body using ivermectin, a drug that kills the microfilariae, helps alleviate symptoms, prevent blindness, and improve the quality of life for those infected. Regular treatment with ivermectin reduces the burden of the disease in endemic areas and, when combined with vector control measures like spraying insecticides, can drastically decrease transmission rates. The improvement in personal and community health following the reduction of river blindness cases allows individuals to maintain their livelihoods and reduces the economic impact of the disease.
