MDA IN JHARKHAND: CAN IT BE AN OPPORTUNISTIC INTERVENTION TO REDUCE COVID-19 INFECTION, SIMDEGA DISTRICT JHARKHAND

Abstract

Ivermectin, an FDA approved drug was used earlier for the control of various parasitic diseases such as Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis in African and Asian countries. In the current pandemic situation, Ivermectin has also been explored as a prophylactic and therapeutic option for COVID-19 infection. This study explores the role of single dose Ivermectin as a part of triple drug therapy (IDA: Ivermectin + Diethylcarbamazine + Albendazole) along with Mass drug administration (MDA) under the National Filariasis Elimination Programme in Simdega District of Jharkhand state in India. MDA with IDA was conducted during 10-31st August 2020 in Simdega. Trend of COVID-19 cases before and after MDA was analyzed to assess the effect of a single dose of Ivermectin in reducing the number of COVID-19 cases in Simdega. In this study, a One Way ANOVA test was used to find the significance shows that less significant difference in the mean number of cases reported before and after the MDA in Simdega. Time series analysis also didn’t show any significant difference in predicted and actual number of COVID-19 cases during the subsequent follow up after MDA in Simdega. The study also concludes that age appropriate single dose of Ivermectin was not associated with any significant decrease in the number of COVId-19 cases in Simdega.