Effectiveness of strategies to manage a water-related disease

Question 1

against adult mosquitoes

Answer 1

1. Using mosquito nets at night/covering up exposed skin is effective as mosquitoes are often most active during dusk and dawn.
2. 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.
3. Mosquito traps have been effective at a small scale, but mosquitoes breed so quickly that it is impossible to trap them all.
4. 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

1. 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.
2. 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

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