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We tried it in Africa. A lot. DDT is great - it's cheap, it's persistent, and there was a heady note of optimism that we might be able to drive malaria to extin
by Fomite 6y ago
We tried it in Africa. A lot. DDT is great - it's cheap, it's persistent, and there was a heady note of optimism that we might be able to drive malaria to extinction via vector control.
Then DDT-resistance developed in the mosquitos.
Combined with the health and ecological concerns around it, its use was largely halted. It's been reinvigorated recently as malaria incidence has rose, but it's a trade-off that it would be nice to minimize with other approaches.
- User23 6y agoIsn’t DDT resistance a result of so-called “responsible” usage like DDT coated netting instead of overwhelming application such as in the USA? It’s the same principle as antibiotic resistance: under-dosing selects for resistance.
- Fomite 6y agoDDT resistance arose during a time when it was extremely intensively used to try to wipe out malaria-carrying mosquito populations. It's certainly sustained by the more moderate uses of it, but at this point, that ship has sort of sailed. It's been reintroduced in some countries as well - it's effective, and it's an important tool, but it's not nearly enough. And indoor residual spraying with DDT for malaria control remains fairly controversial - I fall in the camp of "It's probably worth it, but anything we can do to minimize it is a thing worth pursuing."