River blindness is caused when the worm involved burrows up under the skin and reaches the eyes.

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Then the population could be screened for Loa Loa, and kept under close watch while the river blindness drug was administered.

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In addition the goal is to reduce and control these diseases: schistosomiasis, river blindness, soil-transmitted helminthes, Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis.

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His Atlanta-based Carter Center has also established health programmes which have all but eradicated guinea-worm disease, and is successfully tackling river blindness.

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Because of the observed benefits of treating river blindness, infected people agree to take the medication despite the side effects, Katabarwa said.

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Their Foundation has committed funds to catalyze investments in simple, effective and cheap cures for diseases such as river blindness, elephantiasis and leprosy.

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Phase one of The Coldest Journey expedition - which aims to raise millions of pounds in donations for the Seeing is Believing charity to tackle avoidable blindness - begins later when the icebreaker SA Agulhas sets off from the River Thames.

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