Public Service Announcement

[etumukutenyak]

DDT -- once used liberally to control external parasites and indirectly also controlled malaria/other internal parasites, it was banned in the US and other countries. However, many African countries continued to use it despite clear indications that mosquitos developed resistance to it rapidly. Now resistance to DDT is wide-spread in mosquito populations around the world, and malaria is still a problem.

Some anonymous idiot posted on matociquala about the poor African and South American children dying of malaria because we banned DDT. She quite rightly suggested paying for some mosquito netting, as that has been shown to be extremely effective in preventing malarial transmission via mosquito bites. It's cheap, it's effective, and it's a charitable contribution. Now you, too, can help prevent forest fires malaria.

Comments

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

We had a lot of DDT when we were young. The Smokey Joe trucks would go by at least once an evening when we lived on tropical bases. Mother never let us run after the truck like a lot of kids did, but it was impossible to get away from the smoke.

And I was at the perfect age for that study that shows that girls exposed to DDT are more likely to get breast cancer. But my recent mammogram was normal, so I think I'm okay on that.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Mosquito netting over windows and beds, plus deet, plus moderate smoke (from mosquito coils), plus covering standing water, plus, of course, anti-malarial drugs are the standard prophylactic measures.

Working outdoors in smoke also helps (though, having done it, I assure you that this is a cure almost as bad as the disease).