Incubation period of onchocerciasis
For Onchocerciasis, the incubation period is relatively long. It can take from 1-2 years for the larvae deposited by the blackfly to form nodules, mature into adult form and then to reproduce new larvae on a large enough scale to cause visible symptoms. Therefore, the average incubation period is from 9-24 months. This means that skin symptoms will usually not become obvious until within this time period, and from then on will continue to worsen unless treated. Eye lesions will develop much later as the disease progresses – around 5-8 years after infection. In contrast, some people present initial eye problems although this common.
Line graph showing the incubation period of Onchocerciasis