Niger becomes first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis

International desk:

Niger's Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs Garba Hakimi officially declared that the country is free of onchocerciasis.With this landmark achievement, Niger becomes the first country in Africa to eradicate this disease, which had particularly impacted populations living near certain waterways.On the same day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) congratulated Niger on achieving the standard required to eliminate onchocerciasis.Niger is recognised as the fifth country in the world, and the first in Africa, to have successfully halted the transmission of the parasite Onchocerca volvulus. The other four countries that have reached this milestone are all located in the Americas: Colombia (2013), Ecuador (2014), Guatemala (2016), and Mexico (2015).