Malaria breakthrough as scientists find ‘highly effective’ way to kill parasite

Human trials of new antimalarial drugs are in the pipeline after KEMRI scientists successfully used bacteria to kill the parasite that causes the disease. Trials in Burkina Faso showed that Ivermectin, a conventional drug used for parasitic diseases including river blindness and elephantiasis, reduced transmission rates. The medication worked by making the blood of people who were repeatedly vaccinated lethal to mosquitoes. The study also found that Ivermectin can kill plasmodium falciparum, the malaria parasite carried by female mosquitoes, when administered to humans.

© CDC/ James Gathany