Latest news with #Ivermectin
New York Post
9 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
Controversial drug ivermectin could be the key to reducing mosquito bites — and the spread of malaria
Blood suckers, beware. In a buzzy new study, researchers found that the controversial drug ivermectin could become a powerful new weapon against malaria. With mosquitos increasingly outsmarting traditional defenses, experts say the findings may mark a game-changing shift in the global fight against the deadly disease. 3 Most people get malaria when bitten by an infective mosquito carrying the malaria parasite. nataba – Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, is typically used to treat neglected tropical diseases like river blindness and elephantiasis. But previous studies found it has a surprising side effect: It can kill mosquitos by turning human blood into a lethal cocktail for the pests, causing them to die after biting. Curious if this could help curb the transmission of malaria, a parasitic disease spread through the bites of infected mosquitos, researchers tested the drug in Kwale, a coastal county in Kenya with high rates of the illness. The study enrolled more than 20,000 participants ages 5 to 15, who received either a monthly dose of ivermectin or albendazole — a control drug — for three months. Their malaria status was then checked each month for half a year. Six months in, the results were clear: Children given ivermectin saw a 26% drop in new malaria infections compared to those on albendazole, even in households with insecticide-treated bed nets were already in use. Safety-wise, ivermectin held up well, causing no severe side effects and only mild, temporary reactions typical of its use in other tropical disease campaigns. 'We are thrilled with these results,' Carlos Chaccour, co-principal investigator of the study, said in a statement. 'With continued research, ivermectin … could become an effective tool for malaria control and even contribute to elimination efforts.' 3 Ivermectin is already used safely and widely around the globe. Soni's – An added bonus: Communities treated with ivermectin in Kenya also reported a sharp drop in bed bugs. Meanwhile, a similar trial in Mozambique — cut short by Cyclone Gombe and a cholera outbreak in 2022 — found that ivermectin helped reduce skin infestations like scabies and head lice among participants. Malaria remains one of the world's biggest public health threats, with nearly half the global population at risk. Those infected often suffer high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like symptoms. Left untreated, the disease can escalate to severe complications including organ failure, seizures, anemia, coma and even death. The new findings come as malaria cases are on the rise. The World Health Organization estimates 263 million cases in 2023 — 11 million more than the previous year — and nearly 600,000 deaths. At the same time, mosquitos are evolving. They're developing resistance to insecticides and changing their habits to avoid traditional defenses like bed nets, including biting outdoors and during dawn or dusk when people are less protected. 3 The findings come as traditional mosquito control measures, like nets and insecticides, are becoming less effective in parts of the world. New Africa – 'This research has the potential to shape the future of malaria prevention, particularly in endemic areas where existing tools are failing,' said Regina Rabinovich, director of ISGlobal's Malaria Elimination Initiative. While malaria was once common in the US, the disease has been mostly eliminated here thanks to large-scale mosquito control efforts dating back more than seven decades. Each year, about 2,000 cases are reported nationwide — mostly in travelers exposed abroad. However, in recent years, the US has seen a rare trickle of homegrown malaria cases for the first time in decades. While the overall risk remains low for Americans, experts stress the importance of being able to recognize symptoms so you can act quickly if infected. 'If you have a fever, and they can't figure out why you have a fever, [and] if you spend a lot of time outside where there's a lot of heat and humidity, [malaria] should be considered,' Dr. Prakash Srinivasan of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health told reporters. 'When you catch it early, you can treat it,' he added.
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Scientists are studying ways to make your blood deadly to mosquitos
A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug used to treat tropical diseases such as river blindness, can also fight the spread of malaria. It does so in a way that seems oddly (and satisfyingly) like revenge against the mosquitos that carry the disease. It makes the user's blood a deadly poison to the insects that want to consume it. The new study, Ivermectin to Control Malaria — A Cluster-Randomized Trial , published this month, found that malaria cases dropped by 26 per cent in those who took the medication monthly. Researchers also noted a drop in cases of lice, scabies and bedbugs among participants in the trial. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health , took place in Kwale, a county in coastal Kenya that has a high rate of malaria in spite of such techniques as the use of insecticide-treated nets. Clusters of household areas were assigned to receive mass administration of ivermectin for three months beginning at the start of the rainy season. Children aged 5 to 15 were then tested for malaria infection monthly for 6 months after the first round of treatment. 'Among children 5 to 15 years of age who were living in an area with high coverage and use of bed nets, ivermectin, administered once a month for three consecutive months, resulted in a 26 per cent lower incidence of malaria infection than albendazole (the control drug),' the researchers wrote. They added: 'No safety concerns were identified.' The researchers note that there were 249 million cases of malaria and 608,000 malaria-related deaths in 2022 alone. 'Interventions targeting the vector, such as long-lasting insecticide-treated nets or indoor residual spraying, remain the cornerstone of malaria control and are responsible for the estimated 81 per cent reduction in disease burden seen in Africa between 2000 and 2015,' they note. ('Vector' refers to an insect such as a mosquito that transmits a disease such as malaria.) 'However, progress has stalled in recent years (due to) emerging resistance to insecticides and behavioural adaptations, such as outdoor and crepuscular biting.' Ivermectin isn't the only drug being tested as a way to kill mosquitoes with the very thing they feed on. Another recent study investigated the effects of nitisinone, a drug used to treat rare metabolic disorders. 'The authors show that nitisinone targeted a crucial enzyme that mosquitoes need to digest their blood meal,' those researchers write. 'When female Anopheles mosquitoes in the laboratory consumed blood containing nitisinone, the drug was lethal to young, old, and insecticide-resistant populations and outperformed the mosquitocidal drug ivermectin. Even at low therapeutic doses, nitisinone remained deadly to mosquitoes. These findings warrant further investigation of nitisinone for vector control and the prevention of malaria transmission.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
State to administer anti-filariasis drugs to 1.27cr residents from Aug 10
Ranchi: To eliminate lymphatic filariasis from state, the department of health, medical education and family welfare will roll out the second round of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) from August 10, targeting over 1.27 crore people across 80 identified blocks in nine districts. The round of MDA will include the administration of three medicines — DEC, Albendazole, and Ivermectin. Additional chief secretary of health department, Ajoy Kumar Singh said, "Anti-filariasis medicines are not just distributed but consumed in the presence of trained health workers to ensure efficacy. Make people aware about the importance of anti-filariasis medicines to stay safe from the disease." Singh appealed to departments such as Education, ICDS, Panchayati Raj, Urban Development, PHED, and Livelihood to cooperate actively in the MDA campaign. State programme officer Dr Birendra Kumar Singh said, "Every eligible individual will be reached. The MDA hinges on detailed micro-planning, community awareness, and strong monitoring. Review meetings will be held daily at district and block levels, with a state-level assessment during the campaign to ensure proper implementation. If the community consistently takes the prescribed anti-filarial medicines annually for five years, the disease can be eliminated from the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo " Moreover, the state is also proactively implementing the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign, running from July 1 to August 14, aiming to prevent child deaths due to diarrhoea. Experts said with diarrhoea contributing to 4.1% of child mortality under the age of five in India, the state is taking comprehensive measures under the campaign.
Otago Daily Times
04-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
GP must pay $65k for prescribing Ivermectin
A Southland doctor has been forced to pay more than $65,000 after she admitted importing and administering Ivermectin during the height of the Covid pandemic. Dr Sophie Jane Febery, registered medical practitioner of Mataura, whose suppression order has lapsed, has had previous charges of misconduct upheld by the New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal decision was released to the public yesterday. The decision said it was believed the incidents occurred in 2021, and the tribunal noted Dr Febery was not alone in her behaviour. Similar cases had involved nurses who actively and extensively sought to influence members of the public, including by directly encouraging them not to get vaccinated or to undermine the roll-out of the vaccine. While Dr Febery's actions were less serious than that, the tribunal found they were incredibly risky to people's health and wellbeing. "It spanned several months, and involved prescribing for 29 patients and inadequate record-keeping for 26 patients as well as the attempted importation of 2000 Ivermectin tablets and authorisation of release of Ivermectin to three individuals, contrary to the requirements of the Medicines Act. "In that sense, her wrongdoing was extensive." The tribunal was particularly critical about her inaccurate record-keeping. "Adequate and accurate record-keeping is an important part of ensuring continuity of care. "Dr Febery said that she was not concerned about the continuity of care because it did not seem like a medical issue. The reason the patients had consulted her was for a vaccine exemption letter. "She said that they had online access to prescriptions, but acknowledged it would have made it difficult for the GPs to provide continuity of care." Dr Febery agreed to part of the charge and, eventually, consented to the destruction of the imported Ivermectin when testing showed she had imported substandard medicine. Dr Febery also attended a "freedom rights" rally in Christchurch in October 2021, which was held in response to the Covid-19 vaccination mandate and was attended by members of the public — she introduced herself as a "rural GP from Methven" and, having identified herself as a doctor, she gave a speech. She said she had "started researching like mad" when the Pfizer vaccine was introduced and that 'top scientists' had changed her mind about receiving a vaccine, and that 'the pandemic is not as deadly as we thought it was last year'. The New Zealand Medical Council said it was irresponsible, and unacceptable, for a practising GP to have made such a comment in the midst of a global pandemic. To do so was a breach of her professional obligations not to allow her personal beliefs to affect her advice, and there could be an issue of public safety. Regarding her importing of Ivermectin, the tribunal said: "This was not a case of one slip or inadvertent error". "The tribunal finds that Dr Febery's unlawful conduct amounts to malpractice and negligence and is sufficiently serious to warrant a disciplinary sanction." It also remarked that her public comments about the Covid-19 vaccine suggested a lack of research rigour. "Her research and critical appraisal skills were explored briefly by the tribunal during her evidence. In that area the practitioner did not demonstrate insight. "It was evident that her inquiry into the Pfizer vaccine was the most research she had ever undertaken into a new procedure, medication or vaccine." The tribunal ordered her to take and successfully complete an educational programme approved by the Medical Council about critical appraisal skills so research could be analysed appropriately. She was formally censured and also ordered to pay a total of $67,196.52, comprising $39,874.50 contribution towards the professional conduct committee costs and $27,322.02 for the tribunal's costs. For three years, Dr Febery will be required to advise any workplace of the tribunal's decisions.
Axios
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
What Louisiana lawmakers passed in 2025
Louisiana lawmakers wrapped up their legislative session on Thursday, putting a bow on 60 days of deal making and budgeting. Why it matters: Gov. Jeff Landry has already pulled out his pen to start signing new legislation, making official more than 100 new laws by Friday. The big picture: Because this year's session was all about the state's financials, lawmakers had limited ability to focus on other priorities. But limited does not mean none, so there are still changes to state laws that you should know about. Here's a look at some of this session's most notable edits: 💰 Budget passes: The state got a $51 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts in July. Notable line items include: $1.8 million for the manhunt stemming from the New Orleans jail escape, according to the AP. $1.2 billion in one-time funds from a state savings account to pay for infrastructure improvements, plus site prep for future economic development pitches. No additional funding for Landry's LA GATOR school voucher program, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. Teachers and support staff will get some pay increases through HB 466, which the state will pay for with education trust funds. 🚙 Car insurance changes: Heading into this session, Landry eyed changes that he believes could help lower car insurance rates for Louisiana citizens. Landry signed legislation to give the state insurance commissioner more authority to reject rate increases, offer discounts for dashcams for some trucking companies, prevent undocumented immigrants from collecting damages in car accidents and other changes. 🍎 MAHA trends: Some lawmakers prioritized legislation inspired by HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr's. "Make America Healthy Again" policies. Sen. Patrick McMath's bill that bans some artificial food dyes and additives from school foods got the OK. Restaurants would also have to post if they use seed oils. With Landry's signature, it would take effect in 2028. Lawmakers also approved a now-signed bill to ban " chemtrails," a conspiracy theory-based idea that chemicals are released from the vapor threads seen behind airplanes. Ivermectin, which some MAHA influencers say can help cure coronavirus despite studies showing it is ineffective, would become accessible in over-the-counter purchases, with Landry's signature. Another MAHA-adjacent bill to ban fluoride in the state's water did not pass. 🤳 Talking while driving: With Landry's signature, it'll soon be illegal to hold a cell phone while driving. Law enforcement are instructed to issue warnings until Jan. 1, 2026, after which drivers would face fines. 🎓 UNO merges into LSU system: Facing ongoing financial struggles, the New Orleans university will now be part of the flagship university's system. Go deeper from The Times-Picayune. Other school updates include a new TOPS award for students who score at least a 31 on the ACT and a two-hour course requirement on hazing for students who participate in student organizations. It was inspired by Southern University student Caleb Wilson's death earlier this year. 💨 Kratom ban: The herbal substance, which critics say has abuse potential, will be banned, with Landry's signature. 🎈 Balloon releases banned: The rest of the state caught up with New Orleans' ban on balloon releases after ongoing power outage issues, according to Louisiana First News. 💊 What we're watching: Landry has threatened to call a special session to address prescription drug costs. A controversial bill was scuttled in the 11th hour on Thursday after a fierce battle between some of the largest pharmacy benefits managers, like CVS, and Landry and his supporters, who sought to ban companies from owning PBMs and pharmacies. The bill, however, would not take effect until 2027, so Sen. Cameron Henry told The Times-Picayune he doesn't see the point in holding a special session for an issue that could be taken up next year instead.
