River blindness 'can be beaten'

About 37 million people are affected by river blindness

A study by the UN's health body has shown that the disease onchocerciasis - also known as river blindness - could be wiped out using drugs.

The disease causes sufferers to lose their sight and also to develop painful skin complaints.

It is endemic in many parts of Africa - mostly in poor, rural communities.

Scientists from the World Health Organization say their discoveries are a milestone - with big implications for fighting river blindness.

At least 37 million people are infected with the disease.

It is caused by a nematode worm that can live inside the human body for years.

Terrible impact

The parasite first survives inside an insect - the black fly. It is transmitted to people through the insect's bite.

The worms spread through the body and when they eventually die, our immune system reacts fiercely. That reaction destroys living tissue - especially the eye.

Doctors have known for years that drugs can control the disease. But now they believe it can be eliminated.

They studied three areas, in Mali and Senegal, where river blindness is endemic.

They found that after 17 years of treating the entire community with the drug ivermectin regularly, few infections remained. Follow-up studies showed no further infections.

It is not yet clear whether the same success can be repeated in other endemic areas.

But scientists say an important principle has been established.

It is possible to wipe out a disease that has a terrible impact on entire communities.