DDT and Malaria Control

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Introduction

Nearly half a billion people are infected with malaria each year and more than a million people die from this disease. Malaria is transmitted through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito infected with malaria parasites. When the parasites enter the human body, it slowly destroys the body’s red blood cells, eventually killing the patient if left without undergoing immediate treatment (Stanmeyer 2007). One of the means employed to counter the spread of malaria is through the use of DDT as an insecticide to kill the mosquitoes before they are able to infect more people.

DDT is an organochlorine insecticide that is absorbed through surface contact and kills by poisoning the nervous system (Pesticide Action Network UK 2012). It has become highly effective in combating insect-borne human diseases among military and civilian populations (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2011). Currently, through the Stockholm Convention, which was signed during the United Nations Environment Programme 2002, 12 chemicals have been banned, one of which is DDT. However, production and usage was granted to control disease vectors provided recommendations and guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) were adhered to, until locally safe, effective and affordable alternatives were available (van den Berg 2009). Thus, this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the usage of DDT to combat malaria and addresses the controversies surrounding this method by looking at how it affects humans and the environment.

1. Benefits of using DDT

Can be used indoors for the prevention of mosquito breeding as wettable DDT powder can be mixed in water. This mixture is then sprayed through a compressed air sprayer and not applied as an...

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... 2008, ‘Key Mechanism Of DDT Resistance Found In Malarial Mosquitoes’, Science Daily, 16 June 2008, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080616170758.htm, accessed 29 February 2012.

van den Berg, H 2009, ‘Global Status of DDT and Its Alternatives for Use in Vector Control to Prevent Disease’, Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 117, no. 11, pp. 1656-1663, http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.taylors.edu.my/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=47243502&site=eds-live, accessed 21 February 2012.

Walker, K 2000, ‘Cost-comparison of DDT and alternative insecticides for malaria control’, Medical & Veterinary Entomology, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 345-354, http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.taylors.edu.my/ehost/detail?sid=34f5c0de-e928-4a1f-a389-2974d112dd56%40sessionmgr110&vid=10&bk=1&hid=119&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=5519266, accessed 4 March 2012.

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