I.

Introduction
River blindness, scientifically known as Onchocerciasis, was an antagonizing disease
labeled by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a public health and socioeconomic problem
in over 35 developing countries throughout the Third World. About 85 million people were
thought to be at risk throughout Africa, some parts of Middle East and Latin America. This
disease is caused by a parasitic worm carried by a tiny black fly that bred along fast-moving
rivers. When the flies bit humans the larvae of parasitic worm, Onchocerca volvulus, entered
the body. These worms grew to more than two feet in length, causing innocuous nodules in the
skin. Inside the nodules, adult worms reproduced, releasing millions of microscopic offspring
called microfilaria which swarmed through body tissues which causes terrible itchiness, lesion
and depigmentation of skin. Eventually, the microfilaria invades the eyes and gradually blinds
the eyes.