How To Spot Onchocerciasis

Onchocerciasis occurs due to the bite of a sub-Saharan blackfly, and may also be called river blindness. When the black fly bites a human and ingests their blood, the microfilariae that exist in the fly enter under the skin of the individual who was bitten. The person usually needs to be bitten by several blackflies before an infestation takes place. While the infestation with onchocerciasis occurs immediately, signs of the resulting disease may not be noticeable for several months to years. While the disease can be noticed on the skin, in many cases, it isn’t diagnosed with certainty until an individual’s eyes and vision are affected.