Ngabantu abamalunga nezigidi ezili-17 ukuya kwezingama-25 abosulelwe yi-river blindness, nabasondele kwisigidi se-0.8 abanentwana ethile yokulahlekelwa kukubona. Inkoliso yokosuleleka okuninzi yenzeka kwiAfrika engaphantsi kweSahara, nangona nezinye iimeko zixeliwe eYemen nakwiindawo ezimbalwa ezikukuMbindi nakuMzantsi weMelika. Ngo-1915, ugqirha uRodolfo Robles waqala ukumanyanisa le ntshulube nesifo samehlo. Sikwadweliswe yi-World Health Organization njengesifo setropiki esingahoywanga.