Mectizan: Helping Wipe Out an Ancient Scourge     River blindness (onchocerciasis) affects entire communities, primarily in Africa but also in Latin America. For the past 13 years, Merck has worked with the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Carter Center, dozens of non-governmental organizations, ministries of health and local communities to treat millions of people with Mectizan. Through the Merck Mectizan Donation Program, more than 25 million people are treated each year for river blindness in 32 of 35 endemic countries. If current treatment continues to expand, health experts believe it may be possible to interrupt disease transmission, which would lead the way to bringing onchocerciasis under control as a public health problem. The program is now the largest and most successful public/private health care partnership in the developing world.     In 1998, Merck expanded the program to include lymphatic filariasis, more commonly known as elephantiasis, in African countries where it co-exists with river blindness. Merck is committed to providing Mectizan without charge for as long as it’s needed to eliminate both devastating diseases. Back to Access

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