• Acute Mountain Sickness
• Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
• Dengue fever
• Diarrhoea
• Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever
• Influenza
• Lassa Fever
• Legionnaires Disease
• Leishmaniasis
• Leprosy
• Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)
• Plague
• Schistosomiasis
• Tick bourne encephalitis
• Tick Typhus
• Trypanosomiasis (African Sleeping sickness)

Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)

Is a disease that is caused by a worm which breeds near fast flowing rivers. Its larvae are spread by black flies when it bites humans. Often it can infect areas leaving ghost villages, which are often found near fertile land. Travellers are at low risk of the disease unless you are staying or living in an endemic area for more than 3 months are at greater risk of infection.

Risk areas:

Is most commonly found in parts of central Africa, although can also be found in the Yemen, Brazil, Colombia, Equador, Guatemala, Southern Mexico and Venezuela.

Transmission:

Transmitted by a certain species of female black flies which bite by day and are most frequently found near rapidly flowing rivers and streams.

Symptoms:

Can cause blindness and severe low vision, and well as severe itching.

Vaccine:

No vaccine is currently available and the best cause of prevention is to avoid areas where black flies may be rife as well as taking steps to prevent insect bites as much as possible (i.e. where full length light clothing and use a good insect repellant).