Repeat Ivermectin Mass Drug Administrations for MALaria Control II

The RIMDAMAL II trial is designed to determine the efficacy of adding seasonal ivermectin mass drug administrations to the standard-policy malaria control measures in the Sahel (seasonal malaria chemoprevention in children, maximum long-lasting insecticidal net coverage, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy), for reducing the incidence of uncomplicated malaria episodes in enrolled village children (≤ 10 years of age) assessed by active case surveillance. The investigators will also examine the safety of the intervention, as well as entomological and parasitological endpoints. This is a double-blind, cluster randomized trial in that will occur in villages in southwestern Burkina Faso over two consecutive rainy seasons. For the intervention, mass administration of ivermectin or placebo will be given monthly over 4 months of each rainy season to the eligible village population, each as 3-day course of 300 µg/kg/day. These mass drug administrations will occur simultaneously with the distribution of seasonal malaria chemoprevention drugs on the same monthly schedule to eligible children aged 3-59 months.

Inclusion criteria

(for being enrolled in the study):

• Residence in selected study village
• Able to understand the information and willing to give consent or assent (age 12-18) and parent/guardian consent if study participant age is < 18 years of age.

Exclusion criteria

(for participating in the intervention [ivermectin or placebo MDA]):

• Residence outside of the study village
• Height < 90 cm (*note: if subject becomes ≥90cm over course the trial, this exclusion criteria will no longer be valid in subsequent MDA)
• Current treatment with SP+AQ as part of SMC (restricted to children 3-59 months old) (*note: if subject discontinuous SP+AQ treatment because they become older than 59 months over course the trial, this exclusion criteria will no longer be valid in subsequent MDA)
• Permanent disability or serious medical illness that prevents or impedes study participation and/or comprehension
• Pregnancy (screened for in women of child-bearing age [ages 15-45] using a pregnancy urine rapid test [e.g. SD Bioline hCG] the week prior to each MDA)
• Breast feeding if infant is within 1 week of birth
• Known allergy to ivermectin
• Possibility of Loa loa infection as assessed by travel history to Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Nigeria, and Sudan.
• Enrolled in any other active clinical trials