Onchocerciasis Onchocerciasis, commonly known as “river blindness”, is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. The parasite is spread and transmitted to humans by the repeated bites of infected blackflies that breed in rapidly flowing rivers. Symptoms include severe itching, disfiguring skin conditions, and visual impairment, including permanent blindness. The disease primarily affects rural populations in sub-Saharan Africa, and Yemen, with smaller endemic areas foci found in parts of

While river blindness was once widespread in tropical areas around the globe, efforts to control it have significantly reduced the rate of infection. However, it remains a major cause of preventable blindness in certain parts of the developing world, and nearly 300,000 people have lost their sight because of it. This 360-degree film is the second in our "Out of Sight" series. You can watch the all of the films here: http://huffp.st/projectzerofilms. | HuffPost