Onchocerciasis and the Right to Clean WaterClaire Danielson 1, Rose Hildebrandt 2, Timothy Stone 3

Biological Sciences 1, Cognitive and Learning Sciences 2, and Social Sciences Departments 3

What is Onchocerciasis? Quick Facts The Right to Clean Water

Distribution

Future Outlook

• Onchocerciasis is a disease caused by a parasiticworm spread by the bite of infected flies

• The disease is also known as “River Blindness”because these flies breed in streams and riversand advanced stages of the disease arecharacterized by blindness

• Black flies are the vector for Onchocerca volvulus,a parasitic worm

• Blindness is caused by inflammation due to dead larvae in the eye

• Onchocerciasis is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD)

• All ages are affected by Onchocerciasis• Risk of infection is highest in those living and

working near infected bodies of water (fishermenand farmers), travelers to the area for extendedamounts of time (including missionaries andthose in the Peace Corps)

• About 50% of men over the age of 40 have been blinded by the disease in some West African communities• There has been a $30 million annual economic loss in some regions due to people moving away from fertile

river regions to less productive upland areas• Out of the 120 million people world wide who are at risk of Onchocerciasis, 95% are in Africa• About 300,000 people are blind because of the parasite and another 800,000 have visual impairment

People infected by river blindness and other NTDsoften find themselves facing lifelong physicalimpairment ; they may be unable to go to school orwork and become trapped in a cycle of povertyand social isolation . Many NTDs, includingOnchocerciasis, are treatable and preventable butlack the funding necessary to treat the affectedcommunities .

• Vision 2020 e lim in a te th e m a in ca u se s o f a ll p re ve n ta b le a n d t re a ta b le b lin d n e ss a s a p u b lic h e a lth issu e b y th e ye a r 20 20

• Exp a n sion of on ch oce rc ia sis con t ro l a c t ivit ie s world w id e in c lu d in g th e su p p ort o f WHO a n d se ve ra l o th e r a g e n c ie s (OEPA, OCP, APOC)

Symptoms Prevention and ControlTreatment

Pe op le w ith h e avy in fe c t ion s g e n e ra lly h ave on e o r m ore o f th re e con d it ion s:1. Skin ra sh2. Eye d ise a se3. Nod u le s u n d e r th e skin

Com m on m e d ic in e s u se d to t re a tOn ch oce rc ia sis in c lu d e :• Ivermectin : this treatment kills

larvae and prevents them fromcausing damage . Treatmentmust continue for up to 15 yearsas the adult worms may livethat long

• Doxycycline : this treatment killsthe Wolbachia bacteria thatadult worms survive on

As Onchocerciasis is an NTD, it hasnot historically been prioritized bygovernments .

Currently there is no vaccine ormedication to prevent infectionwith O. volvulus . The bestprotection is avoiding the bitingflies completely . Other optionsinclude treating water to eradicatethe flies as well as bringing inclean water to those living nearinfected bodies of water . Vectorcontrol methods were utilized inWest Africa and were found to behighly effective, but due tofunding shortages these methodscould not be used in other areas.

References and Acknowledgements

Figure 1: A female Simulium flyOn ch oce rc ia sis a lso h a s a n im p orta n t soc io -cu ltu ra l im p a c t on se lf-e ste e m , e d u ca t ion , a n d work. Ph ysica l im p a irm e n ts re su lt in g from th e d ise a se ca n le ave p e op le u n a b le to p rovid e fo r th e m se lve s.

Figure 3: Symptoms include rashes, itching,

blindness

Figure 4: Administration of preventative treatmentsFigure 5: A water source located in Western Kenya

used by both humans and domestic animals

With a lit t le con ce n t ra t ion on On ch oce rc ia sis, m illion s o f p e op le ca n b e save d from th e h e a lth a n d soc ia l ou tcom e s of th e d ise a se .

Figure 6: A child and health workers celebrate the billionth NTD treatment from Sightsavers

Figure 2: Distribution of Onchocerciasis

[1] Etya'ale, D. (2001). Vision 2020: Update on onchocerciasis. Community Eye Health, 14(38), 19-21. Retrieved from https://services.lib.mtu.edu:5003/docview/734208362?accountid=28041[2] Geographical distribution of onchocerciasis. (2015, March 16). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/onchocerciasis/distribution/en/[3] Onchocerciasis (river blindness) - disease information. (2018, November 21). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/blindness/partnerships/onchocerciasis_disease_information/en/[4] Parasites - Onchocerciasis (also known as River Blindness). (2015, August 10). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/onchocerciasis/[5] Robertson, G. (2017, December 12). The billionth treatment for river blindness – photo essay. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/dec/12/the-billionth-treatment-for-river-blindness-photo-essay