Click on any picture to enter the slide show. |
 |
 |
|
| The disease begins when a human host is bitten by an infected female black fly. | Some people are bitten up to 10,000 times by the tiny black fly. | |
 |  |
|
| Humans acquire the disease while fulfilling their regular daily activities. | Activities near fast-moving rivers are especially risky. | |
 |  |
|
| Skin manifestations of the disease include the presence of nodules containing adult female and male worms. | Adult worms in the nodules are clumped together. | |
 |  |
|
| Microscopic larvae produced by the thousands by adult worms are the primary cause of the disease. | A rash is the common first sign of the disease. | |
 |  |
|
| Loss of pigment in the legs develops soon after. | Loss of elasticity of the skin causes this condition. | |
 |  |
|
| Damage to the eye includes opacity of the lens and the destruction of the optic nerve. | The disease eventually results in complete blindness. | |
 |  |
|
| Three approaches to the control of riverblindness. | The disease is widespread in the Congo. | |
 |  |
|
| Mectizan is the current drug of choice in the fight against riverblindness. | Merck will provide Mectizan as long as necessary to control and eliminate the disease worldwide. |