Africa: River Blindness Drug Trial Launched Jul 2, 2009
Dakar Researchers are launching a clinical trial with 1,500 people infected with onchocerciasis (river blindness) in Liberia, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo to test a remedy that could help stop transmission, according to drug manufacturer Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and the World Health Organization (WHO). Onchocerciasis - transmitted through black flies that breed near rivers - is one of the leading causes of blindness in Africa, according to WHO. ... WHO estimates there are about half a... (allAfrica.com)
The worm turns Jun 19, 2009
River blindness, or onchocerciasis, is caused by a parasite that is spread from human to human by the black fly, which once flourished along river beds where there is fast-flowing water ... Dr Amazigo is the director of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), which was set up in 1995 to eliminate river blindness as a disease of public health importance in Africa ... The project began to grow across the sub-Saharan region and when Merck announced that it was making ivermectin... (BBC News -- Africa)
Abuja meeting to discuss community involvement in health service deliveryOuagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Health experts, including deans of Facultiesof Medicine and Health Sciences from 12 Africancountries, will meet in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, 9-11 June 2009 to discuss theuse of the Community-Directed Intervention (CDI) strategy inpublic health service delivery. 04/06/2009 Full Text... Jun 5, 2009
The meeting, being co-sponsored by the Ministries of Health and Education of Nig eria and the country's National Universities Commission with World Health Organization African Programme for River Blindness (Onchocerciasis) Control (WHO /APOC), will also discuss plans to introduce the strategy into the curriculum of nursing and medical schools across the continent. The meeting is expected to produce a plan for medical and nursing schools in Afr ica to pilot the teaching of this strategy, thereby... (Panapress.com)
West Africa: River Blindness Fly Makes Tasty Meal for Midges May 15, 2009
Accra Scientists in Cameroon and Ghana have identified the first potential biological agent that could be used against the parasites that cause river blindness (onchocerciasis) ... Net that almost three decades of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa - the largest vector control programme ever - has freed more than 25 million hectares of land in 14 countries of the disease. (allAfrica.com)
'Magic Potion' In Fly Spit May Shoo Away Blinding Eye Disease Apr 14, 2009
Also known as onchocerciasis, river blindness affects more than 17 million people worldwide, particularly in rural Africa ... 7, 2009) Scientists report that the transmission of onchocerciasis or river blindness has been broken in Escuintla, Guatemala, one of the largest endemic areas in the Western Hemisphere to date to stop the. (Science Daily)
Milestone Toward Ending River Blindness In The Western Hemisphere By 2012 Apr 7, 2009
7, 2009) An international team of researchers led by Rodrigo Gonzalez of the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala reports that the transmission of onchocerciasis or river blindness has been broken in Escuintla, Guatemala, one of the largest endemic areas in the Western Hemisphere to date to stop the transmission of the parasitic disease ... In 2007, the MPHSA, together with the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program for the Americas (OEPA), The Carter Center, the CDC and the Universidad del Valle de... (Science Daily)
Insect Spotlight: Black flies work in large groups, leave painful bites (2) Mar 29, 2009
In addition to the effects of their bites, black flies are known vectors of many illnesses (most notably onchocerciasis), almost exclusively in more tropical areas of the world. Black flies are attracted to carbon dioxide, moisture from their victim's breath, dark colors, body heat, sweat and beauty/hygiene products. (Sioux Falls Tri-State Neighbor, SD)
Sacramento Red Cross appoints exec Feb 13, 2009
Before that, he served as executive director of the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program for the Americas, a river blindness prevention program. He also has worked with Save the Children. (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)
Meeting Ghana's First Female Scientist - Dr Letitia Obeng Mar 20, 2008
For her thesis, Dr Obeng investigated into the life cycle of the Simulium fly popularly called the black fly, which transmitted the worm that caused onchocerciasis or river blindness. This made her the first Ghanaian female to obtain a PhD in Simuliidae from the Liverpool University in the United Kingdom Letitia's love for water and the environment is amply demonstrated without one being told as soon as one entered her compound and her living room. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
USAID Fights Neglected Tropical Diseases Feb 23, 2008
The initiative will build on U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) investments in NTDs control and will target seven major diseases: lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis); schistosomiasis (snail fever); trachoma (eye infection); onchocerciasis (river blindness); and three soil-transmitted helminthes (hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm). Approximately one billion people, mostly in the developing world, suffer from one or more NTDs. (PR Newswire)
Fact Sheet: Fighting Neglected Tropical Diseases Around The World Feb 20, 2008
This Initiative will make a total of $350 million available over five years to provide integrated treatment of more than 300 million people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and target seven major NTDs: lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis); schistosomiasis (snail fever); trachoma (eye infection); onchocerciasis (river blindness); and three soil-transmitted helminthes (STHs hookworm, roundworm, whipworm). This investment increases the United States' commitment to NTDs from $15 million in 2008 to... (White House News Releases)
The Rwanda Cure Feb 15, 2008
Merck (nyse: - - )'s 20-year-program to donate its antiparasitic ivermectin has helped treat 530 million cases of onchocerciasis (river blindness), spread by black flies in some parts of Africa; it has prevented 40,000 cases of blindness per year. Cases of Guinea worm, a parasite that slowly burns through the skin, are down from 3. (Forbes)
River Blindness Parasite Shows Signs Of Resistance To Only Effective Drug Feb 2, 2008
1, 2008) Onchocerciasis is an infection caused by Onchocerca volvulus, a parasite nematode worm transmitted to humans by a species of black fly of the Simulium genus whose larvae develop in fast-flowing rivers ... Ivermectin, a medicine capable of killing the parasite embryos (the microfilariae) circulating in the organism of patients and temporarily interrupting the nematode's reproduction, is the only treatment used for onchocerciasis control ... Since 1995, the African Programme for... (Science Daily)
Poor Americans Suffer Hidden Burden Of Parasitic And Other Neglected Diseases Jan 2, 2008
1, 2008) Large numbers of the poorest Americans living in the United States are suffering from some of the same parasitic infections that affect the poor in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, says the Editor-in-Chief of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. In an article entitled "Poverty and Neglected Diseases in the 'Other' America," Professor Peter Hotez (George Washington University and the Sabin Vaccine Institute) says that there is evidence that the parasitic diseases toxocariasis, cysticercosis... (Science Daily)
Neglected tropical diseases burden those overseas, but travelers also at risk Dec 26, 2007
Though little known to most Americans, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and other so-called neglected tropical diseases are responsible for severe health burdens, especially among the worlds poorest people ... The researchers found that filarial infections responsible for such diseases as onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and loiasis (African eyeworm illness) made up 271 (0. (EurekAlert!)
Cte d'Ivoire: River Blindness is Back Dec 25, 2007
The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2002 closed its West Africa programme to eliminate river blindness, or onchocerciasis, as a public health threat ... 29 percent of under-five children there suffer from onchocerciasis ... "These results show that the situation has become alarming in these zones, where the disease had been eradicated," Health Minister Remi Allah Kouadio told reporters on 19 December, following an onchocerciasis conference in Brussels. (allAfrica.com)
Parasitic Tropical Diseases In The Americas -- A Legacy Of Slavery -- Can Be Eliminated Nov 27, 2007
26, 2007) Although it has been speculated for more than a century that the slave trade was responsible for bringing many tropical diseases to the Americas, only recently has convincing evidence shown that lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), schistosomiasis, and onchocerciasis (river blindness) originated in this way ... "Lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and onchocerciasis were most likely imported to the Americas through transportation of millions of persons from sub-Saharan Africa to... (Science Daily)
Medical researchers urged not to compromise quality Oct 13, 2007
Dr Thomas Kruppa, Director of KCCR, said the Centre was at the forefront of filariasis research revolutionizing the treatment of onchocerciasis and elephantiasis, adding that, the Centre had been selected as one of the 8 centres in Africa to participate in the clinical development of the promising malaria vaccine, which if proved successful would save millions of children's lives in Africa. The Centre was also building up capacity into clinical research with the aim of testing drugs and vaccines... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Divergence receives $734,000 NIH grant Sep 25, 2007
Another filarial parasite-caused disease, onchocerciasis or river blindness, is a major cause of infectious blindness. "Filarial infections cause substantial human morbidity, especially in Africa and Southeast Asia," James McCarter, Divergence's president and chief scientific officer, said in a statement. (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
Genetic Code Of Parasitic Worm That Causes Elephantiasis Revealed Sep 22, 2007
The WHO also estimates that about half a million people around the world have lost their vision due to onchocerciasis, or river blindness, which is caused by another type of filarial parasite. "Filarial diseases are treatable, but the current treatments were discovered decades ago," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "There is an urgent need for new discoveries in this area because of the limitations of the current drugs, including toxicities and the development of resistance." The B.... (Science Daily)
More Problems For Flood Victims Sep 20, 2007
Bolgatanga -- THE predicament of people living in the flood-hit areas of the three northern regions has worsened with the influx of black flies, the tiny insects which cause river blindness or onchocerciasis, the multi-sectoral damage-assessment team from Accra has found. The black fly, locally called "behn" is currently common in the Upper East Region, especially in areas between the Red and White Volta Rivers along the Bolgatanga, Bawku road. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Special Security Camp for Bui Sep 13, 2007
Mr. Baffour Awuah said this during the launching of the Bui Disinfestation Project being executed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private Waste and Sanitation Management Company, the National Secretariat of the Onchocerciasis with funding from the Ministry of Finance, at Bongaase in the Tain District. The project is aimed at riding the area of black flies and create a congenial atmosphere for workers and residents during and after the construction of the hydro electric dam at Bui, expected to... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Zoomlion to rid Bui of Black flies Sep 10, 2007
Bui, (B/A), Sept. 10, GNA-Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private waste and sanitation management company, in collaboration with the National Onchocerciasis Secretariat have embarked on a disinfestation exercise along the Black Volta River in the Brong Ahafo Region to rid the area of black flies ... Mr. Gilbert Delly, official of the Secretariat, said onchocerciasis was detected in the 1980's in the country. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
River Blindness Parasite Becoming Resistant To Standard Treatment Sep 6, 2007
Ivermectin, the standard drug for treating river blindness (onchocerciasis), is causing genetic changes in the parasite that causes the disease, according to a new study by Roger Prichard (McGill University, Canada) and colleagues, published on August 30, 2007 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ... larva, or black fly, is a vector of the disease, onchocerciasis, or river blindness ... According to this study, the genetic selection shown "could have implications for the... (Science Daily)
River blindness 'curse' lifted Aug 20, 2007
The control of one of these diseases, onchocerciasis or river blindness, in West Africa is a true success story for a continent where reports of success stories are typically in short supply ... Onchocerciasis is caused by a round worm that is transmitted among humans by black flies ... The Onchocerciasis Control Program, established in 1974 and led by the World Health Organization of the United Nations, has controlled this disease in 11 West African countries. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Treating River Blindness Jul 10, 2007
Onchocerciasis Can Be Treated, Perhaps Even Eradicated, But Not Yet ... It has been a useful treatment for other filarial diseases (diseases caused by species of worms that produce microfilariae); however, in onchocerciasis, the drug causes serious side effects, making its widespread use impossible ... Treatment of onchocerciasis with DEC must be carefully monitored. (Suite101.com)
New Drug Resistance Found In River Blindness: Parasite Could Re-emerge As Major Scourge Jun 29, 2007
A 20-year effort to control the spread of onchocerciasis, or river blindness, in African communities is threatened by the development of drug resistance in the parasite that causes the disease, a study by McGill University researchers has found ... Of those communities, 19 had been receiving annual doses of ivermectin, the only widely available drug used to treat onchocerciasis. (Science Daily)
Drug-resistant river blindness spreading Jun 16, 2007
The discovery could force public health officials to rethink strategies for controlling river blindness, also known as onchocerciasis. In The Lancet study, researchers tested 2,501 people in disease-endemic regions of Ghana from 2004 to 2005, and found 19. (MSNBC -- Health)
River blindness resistance fears Jun 15, 2007
River blindness (onchocerciasis) is caused by a nematode worm which is transmitted by a black fly ... He carried out a study of the West African Onchocerciasis Control Programme among Ghanaian communities that had received between six and 18 years of annual ivermectin treatment and other communities that had never received treatment. (BBC News)
River blindness parasite resisting treatment Jun 15, 2007
River blindness or onchocerciasis is an eye and skin disease caused by the filaria worm. It is transmitted to humans by blackflies breeding along fast-flowing tropical rivers and streams. (Scientific American)
Eradicating onchocerciasis-related blindness May 24, 2007
Impact of long-term treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin in Ecuador: potential for elimination of infection ... Onchocerciasis is a leading cause of blindness worldwide and elimination of the infection is an important health priority ... A strategy of annual to twice-annual treatments with ivermectin has been used in endemic communities for onchocerciasis in Ecuador for up to 14 years. (BioMed Central)
WHO Developing Plan to Tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases Apr 20, 2007
A trusted source of newsand information since 1942. And, breaking barriers has been a long process of thinking, moving from 'I am in charge of leprosy' to 'I am in charge of neglected tropical disease of which leprosy is one of the diseases' is a big change in the way things are doing. (Voice of America)
Carter proposes health, education alliance against diseasesAddis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - For African nations to be able toeradicate most of the diseases endemic within the continent,alliances must be created between the health and educationministries, former US President Jimmy Carter suggested here Monday. 12/02/2007 Full Text... Feb 12, 2007
In addition, Carter said that ten zones of Ethiopia were endemic with river blindness (Onchocerciasis), which is caused by a parasitic worm and transmitted by blackflies ... "We have only addressed diseases not commonly known, but the primary victims of these diseases are children. Trachoma and Onchocerciasis cause unnecessary suffering to children," Carter noted, urging the African ministers at the conference to explore ways by which they could replicate the Ethiopian initiative in their own... (Panapress.com)
Amansie West District records high still births Feb 7, 2007
Mr Adomako said apart from malaria, which topped the diseases, the hospital recorded 113 buruli ulcer cases, 13 HIV/AIDS, 15 onchocerciasis, three yaws and 17 tuberculosis (TB). He said the high cost of service delivery was one of the problems facing the District as the District Health Directorate spent 4. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Stakeholders meet on neglected tropical diseases Feb 7, 2007
Five of the ancient neglected tropical diseases 96 Trachoma; Lymphatic Filariasisl; Onchocerciasis; Schistosomiasis and intestinal worms - are associated with poverty and poor environment. Opening a three-day stakeholders meeting on Strategic Planning on Neglected Tropical Disease Programme in Accra, Prof. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Malaria Strategic Document to be revised - Official Feb 3, 2007
Professor John Gyarpong, Head of the Health Research Unit of GHS, spoke on the neglected diseases like onchocerciasis, popularly known as river blindness, and Lymphatic Filariasis, which is Elephantiasis, were some of the diseases which attacked people but were not talked about. He said strategies had been put in place to scale up interventions and called for more human resource, infrastructure and logistics as well as funding from the Government to run programmes. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
