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AFRO-NETS> SOUTHERN AFRICA: Malaria, Cholera Epidemics Will Soon Reach Peak
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Malaria, Cholera Epidemics Will Soon Reach Peak
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The next two to eight weeks will be "critical" for public health in
Mozambique, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday. Receding
floodwaters and rising temperatures will create "ideal" conditions
for malarial mosquitoes, while the risk of cholera will also spread
as safe drinking water becomes scarce.
In response to the crisis, the Mozambican Ministry of Health, UNICEF
and the WHO have developed a plan for early diagnosis and treatment
of malaria, wide sprayings of insecticide and the distribution of in-
secticide-treated bed nets. Officials have also begun chlorinating
water supplies and educating populations on the prevention of cholera
(WHO release, 17 Mar).
A key weapon against malaria is spraying insecticide in buildings
where people sleep. But the floods have left thousands of people
sleeping outside. British researchers proposed treating refugees'
blankets with insecticide, but the Mozambican government vetoed the
idea. Melanie Renshaw, the regional malaria officer for UNICEF, said,
"I have no doubt that spraying blankets is an extremely good idea,
but it has never been tried out in Africa before. We are not sure yet
if people would accept the sprayed blankets" (Fred Pearce, New Scien-
tist, 18 Mar).
Washington Times columnist Kenneth Smith notes that the insecticide
DDT is "one of the most powerful weapons against malaria," but that
talks in Bonn next week are scheduled to discuss the phase out of DDT
and other "persistent organic pollutants." Smith claims that "fear,
not science," is spawning the global ban on DDT (16 Mar).
Madagascar Struggles With Cholera Epidemic
In related news, the island nation of Madagascar also faces a cholera
epidemic in the aftermath of heavy rains. According to Armand Ralai-
dovy, the government's top cholera fighter, the flooding has worsened
a year-long epidemic that has already taken 1,425 lives. More than
25,000 people are believed to have contracted the disease (Chicago
Tribune, 19 Mar).
--
Holly Ladd
mailto:[email protected]
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