Niger Becomes First African Country to Eliminate Onchocerciasis

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized Niger as the first country in Africa to eliminate onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, the organization’s website reported. This milestone makes Niger the fifth country globally to interrupt the transmission of the Onchocerca volvulus parasite.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Niger’s commitment to eradicating this debilitating disease, which primarily affects rural populations and is the second leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. The elimination effort involved extensive vector control measures and mass drug administration of ivermectin and albendazole from 2008 to 2019.

Niger began assessing the interruption of transmission in 2014, revealing a significant drop in prevalence from approximately 60% to 0.02%. The success is attributed to strong partnerships between the Nigerien government, WHO, and NGOs, alongside continuous monitoring and resource mobilization.

Niger previously eliminated Guinea-worm disease in 2013, positioning itself as a model for tackling neglected tropical diseases in Africa.