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With River blindness, 'you never sleep'

Posted by 3 Danielle on February 3, 2013 at 1:19pm in Mr Bruns 360 Message Board

18 million people have river blindness world wide. It spreads through small black flies that breed in fast-flowing, highly oxygenated waters. When an infected fly bites a person, it drops worm larvae in the skin, which can then grow and reproduce in the body. There is no vaccine for river blindness, but there is a drug, called ivermectin that paralyzes and kills the offspring of adult worms.

I really hope that some treatment could be used to kill the blindness. This is one thing I hope does get that bad in the United states since 99% of this disease is in Africa. What are your thoughts about this?

www.cnn.com/2013/02/02/health/river-blindness/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

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Replies

3Evan February 11, 2013 at 9:14am

That would suck hardcore to have that! Flies under your skin is just gross.
2Autumn February 11, 2013 at 8:10am

Yuck! Just thinking that this could happen is just gross! I really hope it does not come over here! That would be terrible. I hope they find a cure for this.
2Elle February 11, 2013 at 12:39am

This is interesting! i have never heard of this disease. I find it very disgusting that there larvae goes in your skin. I hope that there is a shot or something that makes it possible for people to not get river blindness. If you get bit does this actually make you blind???
3 Adam February 10, 2013 at 8:56pm

This is a terrible thing. Hopefully they find a cure before it affects more people across the world.
2Olivia February 10, 2013 at 8:11pm

I think that is just totally disgusting, it makes my skin crawl just thinking about it! I am glad that they have at least found some way to treat it otherwise this would be horrible!
2Garrett February 10, 2013 at 6:10pm

This is crazy hopefully this does not get to the U.S. because we it would spread like crazy!!
3Brooke February 10, 2013 at 3:34pm

This is scary! I hope its not in the rivers around here! and I hope they find a vaccination for it
2Michael February 10, 2013 at 2:47pm

it wont come to the US i garuntee it. Its highly unlikely but it could happen. I feel bad for whoever has it though. I am sure they will find a way to make a vaccine
2Kjersten :) February 10, 2013 at 1:55pm

This is very scary to think anyone could get this. I feel so bad for all the people that do i bet its just miserable for them. I hope i never get this.
7ColinF February 5, 2013 at 7:46am

This is really scary! I never want to be touched by a fly ever again! I don't want to go blind!