Onchocerciasis

Onchocerciasis is a chronic parasitic infection that primarily affects the skin and eyes, leading to severe itching, skin disfigurement, and potentially blindness, greatly impacting the quality of life and economic productivity in endemic areas.

Causative Agent and Transmission: Onchocerciasis is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blackflies (Simulium spp.), which breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams, primarily in Africa, as well as in some parts of Central and South America and the Middle East. The blackflies breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams, mostly in remote villages located near fertile land where people rely on agriculture.

Lifecycle and Infection: Once the larvae are transmitted to humans, they mature into adult worms within subcutaneous nodules in the body. These adults can live for up to 15 years. Female worms produce thousands of microscopic larvae (microfilariae) that migrate through the skin and eyes.

Skin Manifestations: The skin becomes heavily infested with the larvae, leading to severe itching, rashes, and skin discoloration. Over time, chronic skin changes such as thickening and loss of elasticity (often called "lizard skin") can occur.

Eye Disease and Blindness: One of the most severe effects of Onchocerciasis is eye disease, which can lead to visual impairment and ultimately blindness. The larvae migrate to the eyes, causing inflammation in different parts of the eye, leading to lesions on the cornea and, eventually, to irreversible blindness.

Nodules under the Skin: The presence of adult worms is often marked by palpable nodules under the skin, usually non-painful. These nodules can be surgically removed to reduce the number of circulating larvae.

Socio-Economic Impact: Like lymphatic filariasis, Onchocerciasis has significant social and economic impacts, especially in affected rural communities. The risk of blindness can hinder the ability to work and lead to increased dependency within communities.

Prevention and Control: Efforts to control Onchocerciasis focus on eliminating the blackfly vector through insecticide spraying and on mass drug administration, mainly with ivermectin, which kills the larvae, and prevents blindness.

Global Health Initiatives: There have been significant efforts by global health organizations to control and aim for the elimination of Onchocerciasis, especially in Africa. These programs have had considerable success in reducing the incidence of the disease and the associated blindness.

275 maps found/sites/default/files/upload/ESPEN_NTD_Data_Dictionary.xlsx
Region Program stage Yearssort descending Portrait PDFs Landscape PDFs Data
Africa Continent Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map png
Western Africa Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png
Eastern Africa Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png
Southern Africa Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png
Central Africa Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png
Southern Africa Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1998 - 2007 Download map png
Central Africa Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1989 - 2011 Download map png
Eastern Africa Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1996 - 2012 Download map png
Southern Africa Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) Endemicity 2014 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1989 - 2014 Download map png
Southern Africa Endemicity 2014 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1989 - 2014 Download map png
Africa Continent Endemicity 2014 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa Mapping Surveys (Skin Biopsy) 2012 - 2014 Download map png
Eastern Africa Endemicity 2014 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1989 - 2014 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa Endemicity 2014 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa Endemicity 2014 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2014 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC rounds (Geographic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa Mapping Surveys (Skin Biopsy) 2014 - 2015 Download map png
Central Africa MDA/PC rounds (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC rounds (Geographic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC rounds (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent Endemicity 2015 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) Mapping Surveys (Skin Biopsy) 2012 - 2015 Download map png
Southern Africa Endemicity 2015 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC rounds (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa MDA/PC rounds (Geographic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC rounds (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC rounds (Geographic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa Endemicity 2015 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent Mapping Surveys (Skin Biopsy) 2012 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa Endemicity 2015 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC rounds (Geographic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC rounds (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa Endemicity 2015 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC rounds (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) Endemicity 2015 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2015 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa Mapping Surveys (Skin Biopsy) 2014 - 2015 Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC rounds (Geographic coverage) 2013 - 2015 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa Endemicity 2016 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa Endemicity 2016 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) Endemicity 2016 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
Western Africa Endemicity 2016 Download map png Download map png
Central Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
Southern Africa Endemicity 2016 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent Endemicity 2016 Download map png Download map png
Eastern Africa MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
Africa Continent MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png
WHO African Region (AFRO) MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2016 Download map png Download map png

Pages

2205 maps found/sites/default/files/upload/ESPEN_NTD_Data_Dictionary.xlsx
Region Location Program stage Yearssort descending Portrait PDFs Landscape PDFs Data
Eastern Africa Tanzania (Mainland) Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Chad Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Malawi Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Kenya Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Equatorial Guinea Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Republic of Congo Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Uganda Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Cameroon Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Nigeria Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Liberia Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Rwanda Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Ethiopia Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Burundi Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Central African Republic Impact Assessment (Skin Biopsy) Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Malawi Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1998 Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Liberia Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1998 Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Central African Republic Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1999 - 2001 Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Republic of Congo Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 2003 Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Mozambique Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 2001 - 2007 Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Uganda Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 2008 Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa South Sudan Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1996 - 2008 Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Angola Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 2002 - 2011 Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Nigeria Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1989 - 2011 Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Ethiopia Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 2001 - 2012 Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Tanzania (Mainland) Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1996 - 2012 Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Botswana MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Gabon MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Guinea-Bissau MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Gabon Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Senegal MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Rwanda MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Namibia Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Niger MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Algeria Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Niger Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Namibia MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Nigeria MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Eritrea MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Uganda MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Cote d'Ivoire Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Uganda Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Mauritania MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Madagascar Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Madagascar MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa South Africa MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Burundi Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa South Africa Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa The Gambia MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Central African Republic MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Burkina Faso MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Ghana MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Kenya MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Ghana Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Seychelles MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Benin MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Republic of Congo MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Republic of Congo Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa eSwatini MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Zambia MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Equatorial Guinea Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Zambia Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Eritrea MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Mauritius MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Malawi Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Comoros MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Malawi MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Chad MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa South Sudan MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Cameroon Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa South Sudan Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Togo MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Burundi MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Guinea MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Burundi Mapping Surveys (Skin Biopsy) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Lesotho MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Guinea Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Rwanda Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Sierra Leone MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Equatorial Guinea Mapping Surveys (Nodule Palpation) 1999 - 2013 Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Botswana MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Rwanda MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Angola Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Ethiopia MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Zimbabwe MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Eritrea Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Zimbabwe Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa eSwatini MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Cameroon Mapping Surveys (Skin Biopsy) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf
Southern Africa Mozambique MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Mali Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Mali MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Comoros MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Tanzania (Mainland) MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Cape Verde Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Tanzania (Mainland) Endemicity 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Eastern Africa Uganda MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Central Africa Cameroon MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Guinea-Bissau MDA/PC coverage (Therapeutic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf
Western Africa Liberia MDA/PC coverage (Geographic coverage) 2013 Download map png Download map pdf Download map png Download map pdf

Pages

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