GOOD MALARIA NEWS FOR A CHANGE


Good news from South Africa:

On Africa Malaria Day yesterday, national health department spokesman Charity Bhengu announced that malaria cases had dropped by 65 per cent and malaria deaths in the country had dropped by 73%.

Bhengu said: “Between June, 2006, and March, 2007, a total of 3 597 cases were reported, compared with 10 418 cases between June, 2005, and March, 2006. In addition, the number of deaths has come down from 85 to 25 during the same reporting period.”

Bhengu said the decline was largely attributed to anti-malaria interventions by the department, which included the use of Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane.

DDT's benefits outweigh its risks.