Entry #8 Parasites and the Quest to Eradicate them.

Pictured to the left is the dreaded Onchocerca volvolus. This parasite is the pathogen (pathogen is fancy talk for an organism that causes disease) responsible for the disease known as River Blindness.

This disease, like its name suggests, causes blindness and skin lesions. 120 million people in 37 countries are currently at risk of contracting this disease. In addition 37 million people are actively suffering from infection. (CDC).

The infection can be easily treated and PREVENTED by taking a yearly single dose drug.
The efforts to eradicate this disease and others are spear headed by the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Since 2011 Onchocerciasis (river blindness) was stopped in 11 of the 13 major hazard areas. The disease is almost eradicated in the Americas as well. (CDC progress).

If everyone took some time to educate themselves and do some research on tropical diseases then efforts to lobby or raise funds for countries who cannot afford to stop these diseases, then the world would be a little bit better. The lives of people affected by tropical diseases could be greatly benefited and enhanced through something so simple as a yearly dose of medication.

Currently the CDC lists about 17 different types of neglected tropical diseases(NTD's). The image and the link below contain more information about these diseases and what countries are most affected by them.

                                                               CDC NTD List

Some of the diseases on this list are easily preventable/manageable provided there is access to medication, education, and adequate sanitary care.