River blindness, often known as onchocerciasis, is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) characterized by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. Repeated attacks by blackflies of the genus Simulium spread it. River blindness is named for the blackfly that spreads the virus, which lives and spawns along fast-flowing streams and rivers, usually near distant rural towns. The infection may cause vision impairment and, in severe cases, blindness.
Moreover, river blindness may also induce skin problems, such as acute itching, nodules, or rashes beneath the skin. It is the world’s second most prevalent infection cause of blindness, after trachoma.
