Mass ivermectin program drastically reduces scabies in Pacific Islands
A study published in Nature Health reveals that a mass drug administration program using ivermectin has significantly reduced the prevalence of scabies and impetigo in Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The program, led by the World Scabies Program, demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated national health interventions.
Why it matters
This research provides a scalable model for controlling neglected tropical diseases, potentially improving public health outcomes for millions in similar regions.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A world's first scabies control program has drastically reduced cases of the highly contagious parasitic skin disease in the Solomon Islands and Fiji, according to a new study.
The research, led by the World Scabies Program (WSP) at Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and published in Nature Health , found that the first national mass drug administration (MDA) program of its kind led to substantial and sustained decreases in scabies and associated skin infections across the Pacific nations.
The MDA involved ivermectin , a safe and widely used antiparasitic treatment for neglected tropical diseases.
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