Introduction
Introduction Programme Onchocercoses is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Fund). Our research network is based on more than 30 years of successful partnership of research institutes in Germany and our partners based in Cameroon. Onchocerciasis is also known as river blindness because the blackfly which transmits the disease breeds in rivers; it often blinds people, as well as causing debilitating skin disease. Over 37 million people have been infected (source WHO), often affecting those living in poor, rural African communities. There is currently no official data about the levels of blindness in Cameroon, but it is estimated that about 1% of the population are blind (Sightsavers International), with the principal causes being cataract, river blindness, corneal scarring and refractive error. Ivermectin-mass treatments have been used to cure onchocerciasis and has been available for the past 15-20 years to the villages in our study area. As the life-expectancy of adult Onchocerca volvulus is about 10 to 15 years, it is expected that the endemicity of human onchocerciasis has now dropped to lower levels of endemicity. Planned projects Successful control of human onchocerciasis by mass-distribution of ivermectin (APOC) depends largely of two factors: The implication of additional control measures –…
