Scientists May Have Solved The Mystery Of Nodding Syndrome
For decades, scientists suspected that the parasite responsible for river blindness might be causing a rare form of epilepsy. Now they have evidence.
river blindness
Wins And Losses In Global Health In 2016
The editor of the New England Journal Of Medicine is a big Red Sox fan. And so he framed the year in global health in baseball terms.
How Worm Warriors Are Beating An Unbeatable Worm
Health experts used to say elimination of river blindness, caused by worms, was impossible. Now they've set a target date: 2025. Why the turn in this worm war?
The Story Behind The River Blindness Story: Itching, Weeding, Snipping
NPR reporter Jason Beaubien talks about his trip to Ghana to report on river blindness — and how a farmer who lost his vision is still able to weed his garden.
The Farmer And Fisherman Who Lost His Sight To River Blindness
He lost his sight in his youth. So he never married. But he's lived an independent life for decades — despite the best efforts of goats to raid his crops.
What A Difference A Drug Makes In The Fight Against River Blindness
Two of the 2015 Nobel Prize winners for medicine discovered a drug that is driving down this parasitic disease in Ghana.
What's The Scariest Halloween Costume Of Them All?
It's a bloodsucking creature. But it's not a vampire. Or a vampire bat. Here's a look at the eight deadliest animals on earth (and a costume primer).
Smartphones Can Be Smart Enough To Find A Parasitic Worm
If someone is infected by the Loa loa worm, taking a drug to treat river blindness could be risky. Now there's a fast way to identify the worm — by turning a smartphone into a microscope.
Control, Eliminate, Eradicate A Disease: What's The Difference?
We've eradicated smallpox. But we can only hope to control malaria. A new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History explains how disease fighters set and pursue their goals.