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I'm not suggesting that we don't address the giant disaster of millions dying from malaria. There is another solution right now: mass produce malaria drugs. How
by ses1984 7y ago
I'm not suggesting that we don't address the giant disaster of millions dying from malaria. There is another solution right now: mass produce malaria drugs. How far down would that drive the death toll I wonder.
- BurningFrog 7y agoI actually wonder that too. My impression is that malaria was wiped out in the rich world by methods that we now deny to Africa, like DDT. I also believe malaria is a human only disease, so if you cure all sick humans fast enough, the disease dies out, and you're left with mosquitos that only suck blood and are annoying. I suspect the problem with malaria drugs is not producing them at a factory, but getting them reliably into all sick patients in places where there aren't even doctors or roads. Anyway, you claim this is a real solution: Is anyone actually ready to do this for real? If not, it's not a real alternative to the gene drive.
- mullingitover 7y ago"There are over 200 species of malaria. Humans are infected by five. But birds, bats, lizards and antelopes are also hosts for malaria parasites." [1] So no, unfortunately, curing all the humans will not wipe out malaria. The only real solution is to drive the mosquito vector to extinction, everything else is a temporary half-measure. [1] https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/malaria-affects-animals-as-well-as-humans/3130296 https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/ma...