Effectiveness of strategies to manage a water-related disease

Question 1

against adult mosquitoes

Answer 1

• Using mosquito nets at night/covering up exposed skin is effective as mosquitoes are often most active during dusk and dawn.
• Insecticides to kill the mosquito were effective at first, however the mosquito became resistant to DDT and alternative insecticides are often too expensive for developing countries.
• Mosquito traps have been effective at a small scale, but mosquitoes breed so quickly that it is impossible to trap them all.
• Developing countries often don’t have the technology required to undertake genetic engineering. It is also a very expensive solution and developing countries may lack the education to employ people in scientific roles as the majority work in agriculture.

Question 2

against larve/eggs

Answer 2

• The BTI bacteria in coconuts is a cheap and environmentally friendly solution, with 2/3 coconuts clearing a typical pond of mosquito larvae for 45 days.
• Draining stagnant ponds is impossible to be effective on a large-scale, especially in tropical climates where it can rain heavily most days.

Question 3

against plasmodium

Answer 3

• Drugs to kill the parasite once inside humans have been effective for a spell, but the parasite often adapts and becomes resistant.
• Anti-malarial drugs often have unpleasant side-effects.
• Malaria drugs and vaccines are expensive to research, develop and produce, making them often too expensive for people living in developing countries.