NAIROBI, Kenya – A groundbreaking study led by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), in collaboration with Spain’s Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and Mozambique’s Manhiça Health Research Center (CISM), has found that ivermectin—an antiparasitic drug—can significantly reduce malaria infections when used alongside conventional control strategies.
The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed a 26 per cent reduction in malaria transmission among communities where ivermectin was administered as a mass drug, in addition to the routine use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
The large-scale trial was conducted in Kwale County, Kenya, and Mopeia District in Mozambique, areas with high malaria prevalence.
“We are pleased to have participated in this landmark study, which complements malaria control and prevention strategies in endemic regions like Kenya,” said Prof. Elijah Songok, Acting Director General of KEMRI. “Ivermectin, which has long been effective against parasitic infections, now shows great promise in the fight against malaria and other neglected tropical diseases.”
How the Trial Was Conducted
In Kwale, over 20,000 participants received a single dose of ivermectin monthly for three consecutive months, timed at the start of the rainy season when mosquito populations surge.
Researchers noted only mild side effects and no serious drug-related adverse events.
The strategy aims to kill malaria-transmitting mosquitoes that feed on treated humans, offering a novel method of vector control—particularly useful in areas where resistance to conventional insecticides is rising.
“The results suggest that ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) could be a valuable complementary tool for malaria control,” said Dr. Marta Maia, lead entomologist with the BOHEMIA project at the University of Oxford. “This is especially critical as we face increasing insecticide resistance in mosquito populations.”
Challenges and Lessons from Mozambique
In Mozambique, the trial encountered disruptions from Cyclone Gombe and a subsequent cholera outbreak, highlighting the need for resilient healthcare systems and adaptive community outreach.
“One of the biggest lessons we learned is the importance of strong community engagement,” said Francisco Saúte, Director of CISM. “Trust and close coordination with ministries of health and local leaders were vital for the intervention’s acceptance.”
The World Health Organization’s Vector Control Advisory Group has acknowledged the findings and recommended further studies on ivermectin’s use in malaria prevention.
If adopted globally, ivermectin MDA could be a game-changer in reducing the burden of malaria, which still kills hundreds of thousands annually—mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
