Commonly known as river blindness, onchocerciasis is an agonizing disease caused by bites from infected blackflies that make their home near rapidly coursing waters. Intense itching, rashes, skin discoloration and eye disease that can lead to permanent blindness are the more overt manifestations of the disease. But the devastation goes far beyond the individual.Commonly known as river blindness, onchocerciasis is an agonizing disease caused by bites from infected blackflies that make their home near rapidly coursing waters. Intense itching, rashes, skin discoloration and eye disease that can lead to permanent blindness are the more overt manifestations of the disease. But the devastation goes far beyond the individual.Commonly known as river blindness, onchocerciasis is an agonizing disease caused by bites from infected blackflies that make their home near rapidly coursing waters. Intense itching, rashes, skin discoloration and eye disease that can lead to permanent blindness are the more overt manifestations of the disease. But the devastation goes far beyond the individual.Commonly known as river blindness, onchocerciasis is an agonizing disease caused by bites from infected blackflies that make their home near rapidly coursing waters. Intense itching, rashes, skin discoloration and eye disease that can lead to permanent blindness are the more overt manifestations of the disease. But the devastation goes far beyond the individual.