onchocerciasis meaning - HEALTHIES
Onchocerciasis – or “river blindness” – is a parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted through the bites of infected blackflies (Simulium spp.) that breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams, mostly in remote villages located near fertile land where people rely on agriculture. Onchocerciasis – or “river blindness” – is a parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus transmitted by repeated bites of infected blackflies (Simulium spp.).
Understanding the Context
These blackflies breed along fast-flowing rivers and streams, close to remote villages located near fertile land where people rely on agriculture. For onchocerciasis elimination, sustaining high treatment coverage remains critical. Any decline in coverage or interruption in treatment risks undermining decades of progress, potentially reversing gains and leading to a resurgence of transmission. Onchocerciasis prevention, control and elimination Between 1974 and 2002, onchocerciasis was brought under control in West Africa through the work of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP), using mainly the spray of insecticides against black-fly larvae (vector control) by helicopters and airplanes.
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Key Insights
This was supplemented by large-scale distribution of ivermectin since 1989. The OCP ... To help countries meet these challenges, a process called onchocerciasis elimination mapping, or OEM, was developed to (i) determine exactly where interventions are required and (ii) provide rigorous evidence supporting the classification of non-endemic areas. Pilot surveys conducted by a number of countries in the African Region have generated evidence to inform the drafting of a simplified ... Overview Onchocerciasis, more commonly known as river blindness, is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus.
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The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blackfly (Simulium spp.), which breeds in fast-flowing rivers and streams. The blackfly vector ingests microfilariae (immature worms) when it bites an infected person. Inside the ... The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Niger for having met the criteria for onchocerciasis elimination, making it the fifth country globally and the first country in Africa to be acknowledged by WHO for interrupting transmission of the parasite Onchocerca volvulus. Onchocerciasis is an infectious disease that can cause blindness and permanent skin damage. The source of onchocerciasis is a parasitic worm called Onchocerca volvulus.
A person can contract this ...