DID YOU KNOW INSECT BITES CAN CAUSE BLINDNESS?

While in Benue State, I met a farmer named Mrs. Shidoo, who is 45 years old and lives in a small village by the banks of the River Benue. She tended to her crops, collected water, and looked after her grandchildren—her life intertwined with the natural world and her family. However, several years ago, that harmony began to falter.

It started with an unusual itch—an intense, burning feeling beneath her skin that scratching could not alleviate. Her neighbours called it “craw-craw,” an itch that many in the village had learned to accept. Soon after, nodules appeared, small lumps under her skin, along with rough, darkened patches that made her feel embarrassed in public. But the most troubling change was her deteriorating vision.

“I believed it was merely ageing,” she recounted. “Then I realised I could no longer see people’s faces. I couldn’t tell if the sun was up unless someone informed me.” As her eyesight diminished, her independence faded as well. Farming became dangerous, and walking alone became a hazard. Like many in her community, she was unknowingly affected by onchocerciasis—also known as river blindness.

Spread through the bites of blackflies that thrive near fast-flowing rivers, this parasitic illness has quietly deprived countless individuals in Nigeria of their vision, dignity, and means of livelihood. For Mrs. Shidoo, who once flourished in the expansive fields, the encroaching darkness was gradual—slowly taking away the ability to see even the shadows of her grandchildren.

Her experience is not isolated. In regions of Nigeria and other West African nations where clean rivers flow, blackflies are present—and so is the hidden danger of river blindness. Fortunately, progress is being made as we work to raise awareness around eye health issues.

WHAT IS RIVER BLINDNESS?

River blindness, also referred to as onchocerciasis, is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that impacts millions of individuals, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. This parasitic illness is due to the worm Onchocerca volvulus. The disease spreads to humans through the bites of infected blackflies (Simulium species), which thrive near swiftly flowing rivers and streams—hence the term “river blindness.”

Once the worms enter the human body, they produce thousands of larvae (known as microfilariae), which travel through the skin and eyes, leading to severe itching, changes in skin colour, and—in severe cases—irreversible blindness.

Despite its serious ramifications—including permanent blindness—it remains relatively unnoticed on the global stage. In this article, we’ll delve into its transmission methods, its effects, and the initiatives aimed at eradicating it. Stay tuned!!

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