Onchocerciasis Onchocerciasis, commonly known as “river blindness”, is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. The parasite is spread and transmitted to humans by the repeated bites of infected blackflies that breed in rapidly flowing rivers. Symptoms include severe itching, disfiguring skin conditions, and visual impairment, including permanent blindness. The disease primarily affects rural populations in sub-Saharan Africa, and Yemen, with smaller endemic areas foci found in parts of

PRESS RELEASE: DNDi and Bayer HealthCare have signed an agreement to develop a new treatment for river blindness: http://ow.ly/FAKdP Over 150 million people are infected by river blindness, elephantiasis and eye worm. These three diseases cause chronic symptoms and life-long disabilities leading to great suffering and social stigmatization of those affected. Large-scale programmes for the treatment and control of river blindness have been in place for over twenty years, based on administering dr