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Alphabetical Listing | Travel
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Alphabetical Listing | Travel |
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River Blindness(Onchocerciasis) River Blindness, or onchocerciasis (On-kough-sir-KY-A-sis) is caused by a parasitic worm and is spread by the bite of an infected blackfly. Multiple infectious bites are necessary for a person to get the disease. Infected persons may not have symtpoms, but a skin rash, eye lesions and/or bumps under the skin can occur. Eye lesions can progress to blindness. River Blindness is found in thirty African countries, in regions of six countries in the Americas, and Yemen. Most infected persons are in Africa, and the disease is found most frequently in rural agricultural villages that are located near rapidly flowing streams. |
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Info CDC Home | CDC Search | CDC Health Topics A-Z This page last reviewed September 11, 2008 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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