There are 34 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Arabian Peninsula
that are endemic for onchocerciasis. According to 1994 estimates 17.7
million people are infected (with over 95% living in Africa), out of
which 6 million suffer from severe itching, 500,000 have a badly impaired
vision and 270,000 are blind.
Throughout the world 122.9 million people are exposed to the disease,
again, the overwhelming majority of whom are in Africa.
The prevalence of the disease in Africa is shown on the map on the
left. The red areas show areas with a prevalence of onchocerciasis of
40% or higher.
