Also known as “African Eye Worm”
Generally thought to be a harmless infection
Neglected tropical disease - very few studies have been done; most information is from case reports
Transmitted by Tabanid flies (genus Chrysops)
Mainly active during the day and prefer humans to other hosts
Unlike Onchocerciasis,<unk>  does not damage visual acuity even while migrating through the eye
Mainly active during the day and prefer humans to other hosts
Human gets bit by infected fly => larvae travels through lymphatics => spend next 20 days maturing into adult nematodes => adult worms live and roam freely in subcutaneous tissues (unknown lifespan, but have been shown to live up to 17 years) => adult female worms release eggs that travel through lymphatics to mature in the pulmonary vasculature and then invade peripheral blood (estimated time of infection to time larvae can be detected in peripheral blood is >17 months; peripheral blood levels of larvae then increase until they hit a certain plateau, and then that plateau can be maintained for years)
>10 million people estimated to be infected worldwide
Majority of cases in western and central Africa
Countries with the highest disease burden: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sudan
Low risk to short-term travelers, but should be suspected among immigrants, refugees, visiting nationals, expatriates living more than several months in endemic areas
Countries with the highest disease burden: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sudan
Living or traveling to western and central Africa
Cases have been reported in urban and rural settings in these countries; however, majority occur in densely forested areas
Working outside during the day, working in wet or muddy areas
Prevalence higher in males, probably due to different occupational exposures
Prevalence increases with age, probably due to chronicity of infection and lack of symptoms
Personal protective measures against flies – long sleeves, light-colored clothes, nets/screens, insecticide
Mass treatment in endemic communities is being currently evaluated to determine if it would be safe and effective
Loa loa
Papules
Agent orange
Insect bites
Pepper spray
Scabies
Monkeypox
Seabather's eruption