River Blindness: A Global Health Issue in Nigeria

River Blindness: A Global Health Issue in Nigeria

Presented by

Chioma Dorisday IyamuMPH Student

Walden UniversityPUBH 6165-3,Aspect of Environmental Health

Instructor -Dr. Raymond ThronSummer, 2013.

Breakdown of Presentation What is River Blindness

How is River Blindness spread

Purpose of presentation

Target Audience

Life cycle of black fly

Statistics of disease Control measures & Treatment

River Blindness Defined

River blindness is an eye & skin disease caused by a tiny worm

Host connective tissue is destroyed when in contact with black fly

Onchocerca volvulus is the genius and species of namatodes

Black fly to produce rapidly (microfilaria)

CDC; 2010

Aim of Presentation

Create awareness in endemic societies (Nigeria) in particular

Examine mode of transmission, cultural barriers, and prevention measures

Educate travelers,community leaders and government health department

Address consequences and impact of river

blindness, including economical burden

Target Audience Individual states ministry of health

Department of Public health

Local health providers/Agencies interested in disease eradication

World Health Organization/Public schools

Individuals living in agricultural areas(farmers in particular)

Travelers/visitors

(CDC;2010, & WHO; 2010).

Introduction River Blindness found mostly in tropical

areas River Blindness known also as “onchocerca

volvulus” Disease burden found in 30 countries mainly

in sub-Sahara Africa leading the most

River Blindness never discussed,soconsidered neglected

Disease caused by parasitic worm Worm can live beyond 14yrs in human body

(CDC;2010, & WHO; 2010).

.

Disease Transmitted Transmitted to human through bites of black

fly 90-99% of disease occurs in Sub Sahara

Africa Migrate to proboscis and saliva

Host is infected after several bites of black fly

Worm produce larvae that mitigate in human body and takes 12 days to mature

(Basanez et al; 2006,WHO; 2010, & CDC Fact sheet, 2010).

Disease Statistics Estimate of 25 million people infected

worldwide with river blindness

Of those infected 300,000 people are blind800,000 people have some sort of

impairment 123 million people at risk of becoming

exposed with the parasite. 99 percent of infected persons are in Africa,

Yemen, and six countries in Latin America

CDC, 2010, WHO; (2012). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/onchocerciasis

/epi.html

Burden of DiseaseLarvae mature into adult in about 3 months to

1 year once in human body:

Results to serious visual Impairment (i.e). blindness

Skin depigmentation/ general debilitation

May lead to impair physical & cognitive development

Rashes, lesions, & intense itching(Basanez et al;2006).

Burden of Disease

Retrieved from http://www.hki.org/preventing-blindness/onchocerciasis-control/community-

directed-treatment-with-ivermectin-cdti/

Female black fly

Life Cycle of Black Fly Images in slide 10, 11 & 12 retrieved from

http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Filaria?sis.htm http://cartercenter.org/resources/images/river_blindness_cycle.jpg

)

BlindnessRetrieved from

http://www.filaria.eu/treat/treat/oncho/symptoms_files/stacks_image_525_1.jpg

Consequences of Disease Fear of contacting disease cause

inhabitants to abandon fertile land along rivers

Lead to disastrous socioeconomic effects in stricken areas

Intense skin break down expected High health related cost Low income- especially infected adults, Poor school performance for children Stigma and isolation particularly for women 5% death rate in West Africa attributed to DiseaseNelson, (1991), & WHO;1995.

Skin Lesions/Leg nodules

Retrieved from www.filaria.eu/treat/oncho/symptoms_html

Control & Treatment Through vector control Utilize community volunteers to spread

knowledge of disease Vaccines / surgical care Wearing insect repellant on exposed skin Community directed treatment through drug

distribution -Ivermectin Encourage to wear long sleeve clothing

during day when black fly is active Living away from streams /riversRetrieved from

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/onchocerciasis/prevent.html

Drug Delivery in Communities Retrieved from http://www.hki.org/preventing-blindness/onchocerciasis-

control/community-directed-treatment-with-ivermectin-cdti/

Drug treats Onchocerciasis

Retrieved from http://www.hki.org/preventing-blindness/onchocerciasis-control/community-directed-treatment-with-ivermectin-cdti/

ReferencesBasanez, M.,Pion, S.D.S., Churcher, T.S., Breitling, L.P., Little,

M.p., & Boussinesq, M.(2006). River blindness: A success story under threat? PLOS Medicine, 3(9), e371 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0030371

CDC (2010). Center for Global Health-Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria. Accessed July 7, 2013 from http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/Default.htm & http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Filaria?sis.htm

Coffeng LE, Stolk WA, Zouré HGM, Veerman JL, Agblewonu KB, et al. (2013) African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control 1995–2015: Model-Estimated Health Impact and Cost. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 7(1): e2032. doi:10.1

Hoerauf, A. Butter, D.W., aDJEI, o., & Pearlman. E. (2003). Science, medicine, and the future: onchocerciasis. BMJ:British Medical Journal, 326 (7382(, 207.

References

Nelson, G.S. (1991). Human onchoceriasis:notes on the history on tropical, the parasite and life cycle. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology, 85 (1), 83-95.

WHO; 2012. Prevention of blindness and impairment. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/blindness/en/

WHO, 1995. Onchocerciasis and its control. WHO Tech. Rep. Ser. 852: 1-103. Retrieved from http://www.filaria.eu/treat/treat/oncho/symptoms.html