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Articles for November 2005
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A Model Fight Against Malaria  - New York Times Editorial
The New York Times correctly concludes that Zambia's malaria control program - which relies on ITNs, indoor spraying with insecticides (including DDT) and effective ACT medicines - will show the world how cost effective malaria control can be.
DDT Hysteria Has Killed Millions of People  - Harold M. Koenig, M.D.
Harodl M Koenig and others support the recent Wall Street Journal's recent editorial that calls for US funding of DDT spraying against malaria.
Research finds HIV, malaria co-infected women more likely to pass HIV to foetus  - Xinhua
The report finds HIV positive mothers might be more likely to pass the virus to their children in uterus if they are also infected with malaria.
Anti-malaria genes cancel each other out  - United Press International
Scientists studying the two genes that protect carriers from malaria have found that carrying both is like having neither.
Rolling back malaria  - Matthew Burbidge
Matthew Burbidge writes about malaria in Mozambique and the success of IRS programs. Donors need to pay attention to the successful malaria control programs in this poor and undeveloped country - they are a good model for other malarial areas.
New Results Show the RTS,S Malaria Vaccine Candidate  -
Fourteen hundred forty-two children received a three-dose regimen of the first malaria vaccine in 2003. 18 months later the vaccine has significantly reduced clinical malaria episodes by 35 percent and severe malaria episodes by 49 percent.
Malaria vaccine trial brings hope  - Mail & Guardian
Children in Mozambique are still showing signs of resistance to the malaria parasite after being vaccinated more than 18 months ago.
WHO must take side of malaria victims  - Philip Stevens
The WHO has finally recognised that an Indoor Residual Programme using DDT has the potential to save millions of lives...
DDT Saves Lives  - Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal runs an excellent and hard hitting editorial on the need for DDT to combat malaria. With regard to USAID's malaria control, program, they correctly conclude that " it's time for Congress to exercise some adult supervision."

WHO to push DDT use in new malaria fight  - Tamar Kahn
Roll Back Malaria seem to be endorsing DDT for malaria control, which seems like a step in the right direction. If you read their new strategic plan, their endorsement of DDT is very qualified. In any event, it remains to be seen whether the major donors, like USAID, will actually procure DDT.
Malaria kills 400 Ugandans daily  - Isaac Kalembe
There is still no scientific proof to prove that DDT is harmful to man, animals or the environment....on the contrary many small villages in Uganda are benefiting from the use of the insecticide to control malaria
GSK malaria vaccine boosted by Gates grant  - Datamonitor Newswire
A $107.6 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is set to enable the Malaria Vaccine Initiative to extend its partnership with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals to develop the company's malaria vaccine for children in Africa.
Health Minister launches new malaria drug campaign  - Ghana News Today
The Health Minister of Ghana, Major Courage Quashigah, recently launched the national campaign for the policy on the new anti-malaria drug, Artesunate-Amodiaquine, with a call on Ghanaians to ensure a reduction in the incidence of malaria.
Climate change linked to rise in malaria, asthma  - Timothy Gardner
A new report claims that climate change may promote the spread of deadly diseases like malaria and asthma in both rich and poor countries by increasing the range of parasitic insects and whipping up dust from storms.
Gates grants US$250m to help NGOs fight malaria  - China Daily
The Gates Foundation has pledged further money in the fight against malaria, so far the money has made significant in-roads in developing a vaccine. But in the interim why not use some of the money to fund the most effective control measure currently available - IRS using DDT?

DDT Contaminates Lake Victoria

DDT has been identified as one of the contaminants of Lake Victoria, according to two synthesis reports on water quality and ecosystem management.

The reports were compiled from findings on agricultural chemicals and metal contaminants in the Ugandan part of Lake Victoria.

"A number of banned organo-chlorinated pesticides (DDT, endosulfan, dieldrin and Lindane) were detected in air showing that they are still in use," one of the reports says.

The reports were presented at the closing of a workshop on water quality and fisheries organised by the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project (LVEMP) at Colline Hotel Mukono on Tuesday.

The government has been mounting a big campaign for use of DDT in the fight against malaria since 2004.

"Use of agricultural chemicals has increased in recent years. Many restricted chemicals are being used by untrained persons while adulteration of some is common," one of the reports reads.

The report said its findings were based on studies on concentrations of organochlorinated pesticides in air at Kakira and Entebbe shores of the lake.

The report says air was sampled weekly using a 250m-cubed TEPUF Poly-Urethane Foam High volume air sampler over a 24-hour cycle.

The samples were analysed at Canada's National Water Research Institute and compared to those from Malawi and Canada.

The two reports ,however, say that the Uganda Fisheries Department recent investigation in the pesticide concentration in water, sediment and fish in Lake Victoria showed "no detectable levels of DDT, HCH, PCBs, organophosphates, pyrethroids and Malathion or their derivatives were found in all samples analysed."

The reports say elevated metal concentrations of cadmium, lead, mercury detected in some rivers in Uganda were caused by human activities. The activities include mining, combustion of fuels, trash burning, biomass burning, use of leaded gasoline and industrial activities.

According to the two reports, mercury was in higher concentration in recently deposited lake sediments than older ones.

This, the reports say, indicates there was increasing environmental degradation.

"Nevertheless, mercury concentrations in sediment, water and fish from Lake Victoria were below the World Health Organisation (WHO) and international environmental guidelines," the reports read. The research scientists said this would contaminate aquatic ecosystem and eventually human life.

Dr Fredrick Muyodi, a water scientist from Makerere University's Zoology Department, told participants at the workshop that Lake Victoria has high faecal contamination.

He was presenting a report on water quality and health conditions.

"The main prevalent diseases at landing sites were malaria, dysentery, diarrhoea, skin related infections and influenza. Cholera seems to be endemic in most sites," Muyodi said.

"In Lake Victoria, cyanobacteria dominate other algal species. These potentially can produce toxins hurting humans and animals. They affect the brain, heart, nervous system and cause liver damage," he added.

AllAfrica.com

 
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