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To: Old Professer

"Resistance" may be a misleading term when discussing DDT and mosquitoes. While some mosquitoes develop biochemical/physiological mechanisms of resistance to the chemical, DDT also can provoke strong avoidance behavior in some mosquitoes so they spend less time in areas where DDT has been applied -- this still reduces mosquito-human contact. "This avoidance behavior, exhibited when malaria vectors avoid insecticides by not entering or by rapidly exiting sprayed houses, should raise serious questions about the overall value of current physiological and biochemical resistance tests. The continued efficacy of DDT in Africa, India, Brazil, and Mexico, where 69% of all reported cases of malaria occur and where vectors are physiologically resistant to DDT (excluding Brazil), serves as one indicator that repellency is very important in preventing indoor transmission of malaria."

[See, e.g., J Am Mosq Control Assoc 1998 Dec;14(4):410-20; and Am J Trop Med Hyg 1994;50(6 Suppl):21-34]


26 posted on 01/08/2005 1:01:24 PM PST by G Larry (Admiral James Woolsey as National Intelligence Director)
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To: G Larry

I believe a great deal of reliance on the work of C&W was due to policy rather than science and we all know how politicians are loathe to admit mistake.


27 posted on 01/08/2005 1:27:37 PM PST by Old Professer (When the fear of dying no longer obtains no act is unimaginable.)
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