Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
August 26, 2011
Malaria mosquito is disappearing
But scientists say this may not be good news
Mosquito-borne malaria in many African countries has almost disappeared, but scientists aren?t sure if the disease has been eradicated or if it is just resting up before reemerging stronger.
But the scientists also say that the number of mosquitoes carrying the malaria parasite has also dropped.
?For 10 years, we have been collecting and counting the number of mosquitoes in Tanzanian villages. The number in our traps fell from 5,300 in 2004 to just 14 in 2009, and these were from villages without mosquito nets,? researcher Dan Meyrowitsch said in a statement.
The researchers are trying to determine what has caused the decrease. Theories they are considering are whether the mosquitoes have succumbed to disease, whether communities are using pesticides or whether the fall is due to the chaotic new rainfall patterns.
Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/90058255?Malaria mosquito is disappearing#ixzz1W8tCEZ4Z
Malaria mosquito is disappearing
But scientists say this may not be good news
Mosquito-borne malaria in many African countries has almost disappeared, but scientists aren?t sure if the disease has been eradicated or if it is just resting up before reemerging stronger.
But the scientists also say that the number of mosquitoes carrying the malaria parasite has also dropped.
?For 10 years, we have been collecting and counting the number of mosquitoes in Tanzanian villages. The number in our traps fell from 5,300 in 2004 to just 14 in 2009, and these were from villages without mosquito nets,? researcher Dan Meyrowitsch said in a statement.
The researchers are trying to determine what has caused the decrease. Theories they are considering are whether the mosquitoes have succumbed to disease, whether communities are using pesticides or whether the fall is due to the chaotic new rainfall patterns.
Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/90058255?Malaria mosquito is disappearing#ixzz1W8tCEZ4Z