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How often do you hear about the downsides of malaria eradication in the United States (probably spraying most of Florida with DDT would be one…)? What about scr
by dan-robertson 3y ago
How often do you hear about the downsides of malaria eradication in the United States (probably spraying most of Florida with DDT would be one…)? What about screwworm fly elimination in the United States and parts of Central America? That program is much more similar to the thing described in this article than spraying every puddle with insecticide.
- toast0 3y agoAfaik, DDT continues to be accepted for malarial mosquito control; DDT as an agricultural pesticide is what got a worldwide ban.
- ethanbond 3y agoDDT doesn't run the risk of "running away" out of control the way biological/bacterial/viral interventions do. This is my first time hearing about screwworm and 1) wow what a nasty looking infection, and 2) boy am I glad it looks like the eradication campaign is going well! And yes the screwworm program does seem really similar to this, so especially thrilled it seems to be going well!
- vGPU 3y agoWell, widespread spraying with DDT did essentially create a permanent reservoir of DDT-resistant mosquitoes, which also made them resistant to pyrethroids. Bit of a problem. Fun fact - DDT makes spider mites extra fertile. I do agree however that the eradication efforts of both caused significantly more good than harm, no question.