River blindness (onchocerciasis) is the leading infectious disease that people can get or develop from the use of Niger River. It is caused by a worm (Onchocerca volvulus) that breeds in fast-flowing rivers. It is a major cause of blindness in west and central Africa. Symptoms of river blindness River blindness doesn't only cause blindness, it also creates nodules on the skin and severe itching. This results in damage to the pigment and over time the skin becomes mottled. This causes further problems because the de-pigmented spots are more susceptible to skin cancer. Impact of river blindness River blindness is endemic in certain areas. This has two important social implications: > children miss out on education because they are staying at home to act as full-time caregivers for older relatives who have become blind > people flee areas where the level of infection has hit hard, leaving 'ghost villages' behind. Unfortunately these infected areas are the ones with the most fertile land, closest to the river. Facts about river blindness > around 18 million people are infected, of whom roughly 300,000 are irreversibly blind > 99 per cent of those with river blindness live in Africa > a further 125 million people are currently at risk from infection
