Dr. Carlos Chaccour, researcher of the Inst itute of Tropical Health of the University of Navarra and resident physician at the University of Navarra, has been appointed of the Clínica Universidad de Navarrahas been appointed coordinator of group of work for the Elimination of Malaria through Ivermectin, a drug of recognized efficacy for the treatment of this disease.

The team, which brings together the world's leading scientists in this field, emerged after the meeting convened by the American Tropical Medicineassociation , with the participation of the World Health Organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and scholars from institutions such as Harvard University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, or Colorado State University.

At the event, the Venezuelan presented his work, which demonstrates that through"the modification of the formulation of ivermectin it is possible to maintain insecticide concentrations in blood safely for months, thus avoiding the transmission of malaria".

In addition, other lines of research were presented around this disease and the need to coordinate efforts was seen. Hence the creation of the Ivermectine Malaria Elimination Working Group (group of work for the Elimination of Malaria through Ivermectin).

One of the functions of this body will be to bring together leading researchers from around the world in this field, to harmonize work and to implement a common plan. Another meeting will be held in the coming months to set up the instructions of this group.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that mainly affects poor countries; in particular, 90% of deaths occur in Africa, mostly in children under 5 years of age. In 2012, there were about 207 million cases of which 627,000 resulted in death.