Strategies for managing a water-related disease

Question 1

against adult mosquito

Answer 1

• Spraying insecticides in an attempt to kill the Anopheles mosquitoes which spread the disease.
• Breeding genetically modified sterile mosquitoes, or mosquitoes unable to carry the parasite
• Breeding genetically-modified sterile mosquitoes causing the species to die out.
• Breeding mosquitoes which give birth to predominantly male offspring to reduce the numbers of female mosquitoes.
• Mosquito traps which mimic animals and humans by emitting a small amount of carbon dioxide in order to lure the mosquitoes into the trap where they are killed.
• Increased use of insecticide-coated mosquito nets at night.

Question 2

against larvae

Answer 2

• BTI bacteria artificially grown in coconuts. the fermented coconuts are broken open after a few days and thrown into the mosquito larvae-infested ponds. The larvae eat the bacteria and have their stomach lining destroyed.
• Putting larvae-eating fish such as the muddy loach into stagnant ponds or paddy fields can also help to reduce the larvae as the fish eat the larvae.
• Flushing reservoirs and draining stagnant ponds or swamps every seven days as it takes longer than this period of time for the larvae to develop into adult mosquitoes.
• Planting eucalyptus trees can help soak up excess moisture and reduce the amount of stagnant water.

Question 3

against plasmodium

Answer 3

• Medication to kill the parasite/prevent infection such as quinine and chloroquine.
• Vaccinations such as RTS,S/Mosquirix. Prevention is better than treatment.
• Educating people in the use of insect repellents or covering the skin at dawn/dusk when mosquitoes are most active (eg, the WHO’s Roll Back Malaria campaign).