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There's a lot of debate in the field as to whether or not it's actually possible to eradicate malaria. Partially because mosquito eradication programs failed in
by Fomite 6y ago
There's a lot of debate in the field as to whether or not it's actually possible to eradicate malaria. Partially because mosquito eradication programs failed in the core "malaria belt" even with substantial international investment.
There is work on this though, primarily around introducing genetically modified mosquitos.
- rossdavidh 6y agoWell, the attempt in Brazil did not go as planned: https://www.dw.com/en/genetically-modified-mosquitoes-breed-in-brazil/a-50414340 https://www.dw.com/en/genetically-modified-mosquitoes-breed-... "The hope of the Ministry of Health was to reduce mosquito populations by 90 percent. And this worked well during the field trial. About 18 months after the end of the experiment, the mosquito population returned to what it had been before."
- Fomite 6y agoIndeed. Ecological systems are complicated and remarkably resilient.
- stjohnswarts 6y agothat's a good thing since humans seem to be full steam ahead on destroying them (at least currently)
- yyyk 6y agoIt's was not unexpected that levels bounced back eventually - we'd expect them to, after a small trial lasting only 27 weeks. Arguably if this approach (or the gene drive one) was sustained and combined with the standard treatments we'll get rid of these things or at least malaria.