🚀 go-pugleaf

I would like to find out more about drugs that can fight parasites.
Being an engineer, i am illiterate on this subject. So please 
bear with me. I am interested in a drug to counter river blindness,
also known as onchocerciasis (or filariasis). It is a parasite
that can lead to blindness and the disease is spread by blackflies 
in africa. The drug to counter this is ivermectin, alternatively,
also di-ethyl-carbamazine. Apparently, ivermectin is only manufactured in 
France and in the US. 

Could anyone please tell me the symptoms, the duration of treatment,
and prevention? Is it a water-borne parasite that enters the body 
by drinking the water? Or is it spread by blackflies? 

Can anyone please tell me how i can get an equivalent 
anti-parasitic drug in the UK, without prescription? I have checked
with the local pharmacy, who tells me that there are no local 
manufacturers. For all those wondering, my dad is going to Sierra Leone, 
West Africa. Many thanks in advance for the help.

Kin
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