Tag: onchocerciasis
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Stinky Socks Replace Humans as Bait in River Blindness Surveys
Overview: A safer approach to monitoring river blindness River blindness, or onchocerciasis, is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic worms transmitted by black flies. Traditional field surveys have relied on human volunteers to attract black flies, who sample these insects to gauge transmission risk and assess the impact of mass drug administration programs. While…
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Stinky Socks Replace Human Bait in River Blindness Surveys
Overview: A shift in river blindness surveillance Researchers from Sightsavers in collaboration with Global I… have explored a provocative approach to monitoring river blindness transmission. The breakthrough centers on using odour-driven traps—specifically, the scent of used, stinky socks—to attract the black fly vectors that carry Onchocerca volvulus. The goal is to replace humans who have…
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Stinky Socks Replace People as Bait in River Blindness Surveys
Overview: A cleaner approach to a persistent problem River blindness, or onchocerciasis, affects millions across parts of Africa, Latin America, and today remains a major public health challenge in remote river valleys. Traditionally, survey teams used human bait to attract the Simulium black flies that spread the disease, testing captured flies or the people exposed…