Deworming drug used during Covid to treat filaria now - IndiaTimes

BHUBANESWAR: The health department on Wednesday decided to include popular deworming drug ivermectin in combination with two other oral drugs for residents of 11 filaria-prone districts from August 10.

Ivermectin was widely used during Covid as a prophylactic drug.
Earlier, it had never been given to people in filaria-prone districts as albendazole and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) were used.

"All necessary preparations have been made for the mass drug administration. Those above two years of age are eligible to take the three oral drugs, including ivermectin. It is a prophylactic but it is administered because micro filarial parasites may be present in people and the drugs can help check the spread," said Niranjan Mishra, director of public health.
The 11 filaria-prone districts where the drug will be administered are Angul, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Sundargarh. Considering the eligible age group to take the drug, the health department estimates to cover 1,81,23,082 people.
The department has decided to engage 65,646 drug administrators and 6,431 supervisors. At present, the household survey is going on in the 11 districts.
Dr Jayant Panda, professor of medicine, SCB Medical College and Hospital, said ivermectin is an anti-helminthic wormicidal drug that was in veterinary practice for long. "Because of its anti-micro filarial effect, it is combined with DEC and albendazole for prevention and treatment," Panda said.

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