Infection Control

Scientists concerned stowaway mosquitoes may spread malaria

Infection Control Weekly Monitor, December 24, 2008

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Infection Control Weekly Monitor!

Global warming is raising the risk for infection with what’s been dubbed “airport malaria” in areas of the United States and Europe that have been free of the disease, researchers warn.

The risk is carried by infected mosquitoes that find their way into planes in tropical regions and may then be released into the increasingly warmer climates of developed countries where they can survive and proliferate, HealthDay News reported.

Malaria is the most common cause of infections in the world, killing over 12 million people each year. Thanks to global warming, mosquitoes live longer and have more breeding areas and longer egg-laying seasons, said researchers, who fear a reintroduction of the disease into areas, including the United States. Researchers presented their findings in December at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene annual meeting in New Orleans. Researchers said one potential solution would be fumigating planes that depart from areas with endemic malaria when passengers disembark, but airlines are reluctant to do so because some people can have an adverse reaction to the chemical. Researchers suggested the World Health Organization mandate such action.



Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Infection Control Weekly Monitor!

Comments

1 comments on “Scientists concerned stowaway mosquitoes may spread malaria ”

Jucelia (3/13/2012 at 10:45 PM)
I'm on the side of Sil and Kate, John. Yoghurt is a winner and any and every time I have to take a ucorse of antibiotics I make sure there's plenty of it in the fridge and keep those lovely little bacteria flourishing. And what I wouldn't give for a nice sour mess of kim chee! Love the stuff! That and another mouth blowing goody that a gal from New Caledonia gave me the recipe for called Achards. Green beans, garlic, more garlic and a good dash of garlic with oil and vinegar and something else, which I'm forgetting (I do have the recipe, but too lazy to go look for it) Ah! I believe it's red peppers. HOT as HOT, anyway, but yummy. And no public appearances for at least a week, unless you enjoy being persona non grata!

 

Most Popular

Related Articles