Mosquito-killing drug offers new tool for fighting malaria

Mosquito-killing drug offers new tool for fighting malaria

1. In a randomized trial in Burkina Faso, the antimalarial effects of ivermectin has shown that it has the potential to reduce malaria episodes. Burkina Faso is a country in western Africa.
2. Ivermectin reduces new cases of malaria by making a person’s blood lethal to the mosquitoes who bite them, killing mosquitoes. It therefore reduces the likelihood of infection of others.
3. Ivermectin is a drug used to treat parasitic infections such as head lice, river blindness and scabies. Mosquito-killing capabilities of the drug has been known, however, it had not previously been tested for its effects on malaria incidence.
4. Malaria is disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. According to the World Malaria Report 2018, more than 200 million people were affected by malaria in 2017. Africa has the highest malaria burden.