Summer mosquitoes are rampant. Although insecticides are sprayed, mosquitoes are not easily managed. Some mosquitoes have developed resistance to insecticides and survive. In this situation, good news has emerged. The antiparasitic drug ivermectin, which targets ticks, has been shown to be effective in killing mosquitoes. The malaria transmitted by mosquitoes has also decreased.
◇Children in Kenya reduce malaria infections
Dr. Carlos Chaccour and his research team from the World Health Organization research institute in Barcelona, Spain, noted on the 23rd of last month in the international academic journal "New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)" that malaria infections decreased after administering ivermectin to children in Kenya. Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug that kills parasites in the body. In contrast, insecticides primarily target insects that are around people.
The research team administered ivermectin and another antiparasitic drug, albendazole, to over 2,800 children aged 5 to 15 in Kenya once a month for three months. As a result, children given ivermectin had a 26% lower malaria infection rate compared to those given albendazole.
Malaria is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. When a mosquito bites human blood, the parasitic protists it carries can cause severe fever and chills, and in severe cases, can be fatal. Despite global eradication efforts, malaria results in 600,000 deaths every year, mostly among children in underdeveloped countries in Africa.
Mosquitos infected with the protist are exposed to ivermectin while sucking human blood. The research team explained that ivermectin kills mosquitoes by blocking their nerve signals, leading to muscle paralysis. Albendazole also disrupts the mosquito's glucose absorption but does not kill them as effectively as ivermectin.
The research team said, "In a situation where mosquitoes have developed resistance to conventional insecticides and continue to survive, ivermectin could be an alternative." Ivermectin was once hoped to treat COVID-19, but it has been shown to have no such effect.
◇Repellents paralyze mosquito sense of smell
Mosquitoes can also be repelled with repellents. Mosquito repellents primarily contain diethyltoluamide (DEET). They paralyze the mosquito's sense of smell, preventing it from detecting human sweat and ammonia odors. Repellents only keep mosquitoes away but are not insecticides that kill them.
Mosquito repellents should be applied thinly to the arms, legs, and neck or sprayed on clothes, socks, and shoes. They provide effectiveness for 4 to 5 hours at a time. Frequent application may cause skin irritation, so it is important to wash with soap and water upon returning home. DEET can cause side effects in the nervous system, so caution is advised. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommends that mosquito repellents with DEET concentrations below 10% be used for those aged 6 months and older, while repellents with concentrations between 10 and 30% should be used for those aged 12 and older.
Strong fans can also deter mosquitoes. Mosquitoes fly at speeds of 1.6 to 2.4 km/h. If the wind speed exceeds this, it becomes difficult for mosquitoes to approach. Additionally, since mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, it is important to manage and eliminate any standing water around the house.
References
NEJM (2025), DOI: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2411262