Mosquito/Malaria Control (15)
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I agree with you John. I believe the debate was not on whether
we could use ITNs to change the feeding habits but rather it was
to demonstrate the fact that bednets MAY cause a shift in the
biting pattern. This is critical when it comes to bednet use and
efficacy since it would be meaningless to use ITNs if the biting
pattern has shifted to very early in the evening before people
retire to bed. It is true however, that we must remove the poli-
tics of self-interest.
Maurice R. Odiere
CDC-Entomology Section
P.O.Box 1578
Kisumu, Kenya
Tel. (Office): +254-572-022-902
Cell: +254-721-845-777
mailto:modiere@ke.cdc.gov
Mosquito/Malaria Control (16)
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What's always amazing to me on this subject is that nobody wants
to talk about using tried and proven methods of mosquito control
in order to control malaria. At the same time nobody is discuss-
ing the use of bednets for the control of any mosquito borne
disease in the US. In the US the control methods are the ones
that have been in place for the past 60 years and have
COMPLETELY eradicated malaria here.
Bill Nesler
mailto:sdbc@hur.midco.net
Mosquito/Malaria Control (17)
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Dear Bill,
One person came near to saying it. He sent me this reply: "In
Italy, they had plenty of malaria a 100 or 50 years ago, and it
was certainly not bednets which finished the epidemic, but envi-
ronmental health and vector control by municipalities and the
government (control of breeding of anopheles by controlling wa-
ter sources etc.)."
You yourself have mentioned aerial spraying in the US, a method
that you say is cost-effective and efficient. The question is
who would make that available (and affordable) to us. Bednets
will take us more years of agony before we can talk of any mean-
ingful impact!
Using DDT is the other alternative (either indoors or outdoors -
I don't know). In Uganda we are likely to opt for indoor spray-
ing, at least for a start. So, what is the fear about? Each gov-
ernment has to take that one bold step, just like we did about
HIV/AIDS. I would prefer regional initiatives for economic and
also political reasons. These things mean taking risks, yet it
has to be done. Research is crucial though, like I said the
other time for ethical and other reasons, e.g. acceptability by
the people. Let me hope there will be more talking about proven
methods.
Let me end my contribution here.
Thanks to all.
John Arube Wani
mailto:arube@chdc-muk.com