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USAID

Neglected Tropical Diseases
The NTD Initiative
The Neglected Tropical Diseases Initiative

Onchocerciasis

Epidemiology

  Photo of two legs with skin lesions and depigmentation.
  Skin lesions with depigmentation
Source: APOC

The World Health Organization's expert committee on onchocerciasis estimates that approximately 50 million people are at risk of contracting onchocerciasis. Presently, there are about 17.7 million infected, of whom about 270,000 are blind and another 500,000 are suffering from some form of visual impairment.1 More than 99 percent of all cases of onchocerciasis and onchocerciasis-related blindness are found in Africa. Isolated foci of the disease also exist in Yemen and in six countries in Central and South America. Onchocerciasis in casual travelers is rare; since, unlike malaria, contracting onchocerciasis requires more than one infectious bite. The infection is mostly transmitted in rural areas.

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References

  1. Hoerauf A., Buttner DW, Adjei O, et al: Onchocerciasis. BMJ 326:207, 2003.