Health officials in Central Africa are warning that diseases once thought to be nearly eradicated are quietly returning. In regions of Cameroon where rivers cut through fertile land, infections like onchocerciasis—commonly known as river blindness—are re-emerging after years of progress. These afflictions spread silently through insect bites and contaminated water, causing chronic pain, disfigurement, and blindness. For decades, sustained treatment campaigns kept these diseases at bay. But when funding dried up and treatment cycles were interrupted, the parasites did what they have always done: they came back fast.

What makes this resurgence especially alarming is how fragile the victory always was. Diseases classified by the World Health Organization as “neglected tropical diseases” require relentless, long-term intervention. Miss a year of treatment, and decades of work can unravel. In Cameroon, communities that once received life-saving medication door to door were left without supplies in 2025. The result is predictable—new infections, worsening symptoms, and the return of suffering many believed belonged to another age. These illnesses rarely dominate headlines, but they leave lasting scars on entire generations.

SOURCE: DYNUZ