Niger becomes the first country in the African region to eliminate onchocerciasis

• Niger is the first country in Africa and the fifth in the world to have stopped the spread of the Onchocerca volvulus parasite.

• The four other countries to have achieved this goal are Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Colombia.

• All of these countries are located in the Americas.

• Onchocerciasis is the second most prevalent infectious cause of blindness worldwide, after trachoma.

• The parasitic disease onchocerciasis is also known as river blindness.

• Humans are infected with this disease through the bite of infectious black flies, which are found primarily near rivers.