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Glite Dictionary
river blindness

river blindness

1 5.3
A disease caused by a tiny worm spread by black flies that makes skin very itchy and causes blindness
  • noun
  • /ˈrɪvər ˈblaɪndnəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ceguera de río
  • The transmission of river blindness occurs primarily through blackfly bites, highlighting the need for effective control measures.
  • river blindness (onchocerciasis)
  • river blindness parasite
  • river blindness disease

It's very effective in treating the the worm that causes river blindness, the pathogen that causes elephantitis, scabies.

Examples

  • River blindness, a parasitic disease transmitted by blackfly, currently affects more than 85 million people in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Community health initiatives focus on educating people about the dangers of river blindness and how to prevent it.

  • He has played a central part in the international campaigns to rid the world of river blindness and to control measles.

  • He has played a central part in the international campaigns to rid the world of river blindness and to control measles.

  • Parasites like guinea worm and the agent of river blindness can usually be easily treated, but not when the drugs cannot reach those who need them.

    Academic text (2002)

  • A rural newsletter is published biannually, and the project has recently expanded to include treatment for onchocerciasis (river blindness).

    Academic text (1993)

  • It's very effective in treating the the worm that causes river blindness, the pathogen that causes elephantitis, scabies.

    Lex Fridman

  • On the health front, smallpox has been eradicated, infant mortality rates have been lowered, and illnesses such as diarrhea and river blindness have been widely treated.

    Academic text (2005)

  • In many parts of Africa, river blindness causes severe discomfort and can lead to permanent vision loss if untreated.

Synonyms

onchocerciasis
vsriver blindness
  • Specialized
9.9

A disease from tiny worms that spread by black fly bites, making skin itchy and causing blindness

is the common or informal name used instead of the scientific term

Surface Forms

river blindness singular
river blindesses plural

Morphology

river + blindness

The compound 'river blindness' clearly signals a type of blindness associated with rivers, so a B1 learner who knows 'river' and 'blindness' will likely infer it refers to blindness caused by or linked to rivers. However, the precise medical sense — that it is a specific parasitic disease transmitted by blackflies — is specialized and not fully predictable from the constituents, making the expression only partially transparent.

Etymology

River blindness gets its name from a simple image: tiny black flies that live near fast-flowing rivers bite people and can damage their eyes. So the word river points to where the flies live and blindness means 'to become blind', which explains the disease name today.