Fresh hope as new anti-jigger treatment replaces thorns, needles

Health workers from Manyatta in Embu County and Kenya Medical Stores Authority staff attend to school children at Grogan slums, last month. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

NAIROBI, KENYA: Researchers have discovered an effective and affordable drug for fighting jiggers which could replace the current method of physical removal of the parasite.

Working with two groups of children from Gatundu North in Central Kenya, the experts say when applied early, the chemical dimeticones weakens the parasites within three days and by the end of the week they are dead.