Strategies for Malaria

• Insecticides


  Chemicals sprayed on walls to kill Anopheles mosquitoes
• Insecticides like DDT were effective


  But the mosquito has become resistant to it
• Alternative insecticides


  • Often too expensive for developing countries
• Genetically modified sterile mosquitoes


  Released to cause the species to die out because they can no longer breed
• Developing countries


  • Often do not have the technology required to carry this out
• BTI bacteria


  Artificially grown in coconuts, broken and thrown into stagnant water to destroy the stomach lining of mosquito larvae
• BTI bacteria method


  • Needs to be done every 45 days, so is time consuming and wasteful
• Eucalyptus trees


  Planted to soak up excess moisture and reduce areas of stagnant water
• Eucalyptus trees


  • Invasive and have overtaken native species in some areas
• Reservoirs


  Flushed every 7 days to prevent larvae developing into adult mosquitoes
• Reservoir flushing


  • Can be a challenge where water needs to be stored for dry seasons
• Guppy fish


  Introduced into stagnant ponds to eat the larvae
• Guppy fish


  • Provide an alternative food source for local people as they breed
• Mustard seeds


  Thrown into stagnant water to attach to larvae and drown them
• Mustard seeds


  • Eco-friendly solution to kill larvae
• Insect repellents


  Deter mosquitoes from landing on skin
• Covering skin at dawn/dusk

  • When mosquitoes are most active
• Insecticide-coated mosquito nets


  Used at night to prevent being bitten
• Bed nets


  • One of the easiest and cheapest ways of preventing being bitten
• Bed nets


  • Often used as fishing nets, washing off the insecticide
• Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT)


  Allow for quick and accurate diagnosis of malaria
• RDTs


  • Useful in areas with no access to laboratories, allow for rapid intervention to reduce mortality
• Antimalarial drugs


  Prevent infection and kill the malaria parasite in the body
• Chloroquine


  • Parasite has adapted and become resistant to it
• RTS,S vaccination programme


  Triggers an immune response in the body to fight the malaria parasite
• RTS,S vaccine


  • Four doses required, people struggling to access healthcare may not receive all doses, more effective in young children than adults