[afro-nets] DDT stories 10.01.06 (4)

["Brian Pazvakavambwa" <PazvakavambwaB@zw.afro.who.int>]

DDT stories 10.01.06 (4)
-----------------------

Dear Colleagues,

I am not sure that the "conservative politicians" that Bruno mentions in his message are as much the issue here as the conservationists, whom he also refers to. Of more importance is The World Health Organization (WHO), the global health technical agency that has provided guidance on the use of DDT for malaria control (see extract and link to WHO's web site below).

Regards,

Brian Pazvakavambwa
mailto:pazvakavambwab@zw.afro.who.int

=======

WHO promotes indoor spraying with insecticides as one of three main interventions to fight malaria

15 SEPTEMBER 2006 | WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nearly thirty years after phasing out the widespread use of indoor spraying with DDT and other insecticides to control malaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that this intervention will once again play a major role in its efforts to fight the disease. WHO is now recommending the use of indoor residual spraying (IRS) not only in epidemic areas but also in areas with constant and high malaria transmission, including throughout Africa.

"The scientific and programmatic evidence clearly supports this reassessment," said Dr Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, WHO Assistant Director-General for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. "Indoor residual spraying is useful to quickly reduce the number of infections caused by malaria-carrying mosquitoes. IRS has proven to be just as cost effective as other malaria prevention measures, and DDT presents no health risk when used properly."

.. snip ... snip ... snip ....
The rest and more details available at the following WHO web-site:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr50/en/)