River Blindness

River blindness, or onchocerciasis, is a disease caused by a parasitic worm called Onchocerca volvulus, transmitted through the bites of infected blackflies found near rivers. It primarily affects people in parts of Africa and some regions of South America. The infection can lead to severe itching, skin rashes, and ultimately vision loss or blindness due to inflammation in the eyes. Efforts to control the disease include community-wide distribution of medication to kill the worms and vector control to reduce fly populations. Awareness and treatment are crucial to preventing the long-term effects of this debilitating illness.