Posted on 05/03/2006 7:26:15 AM PDT by ZGuy
U.S. government officials are enthusiastically endorsing and funding the use of DDT in sub-Saharan Africa after years of resisting calls from scientists who said the insecticide would be the best weapon for fighting malaria, despite lingering objections by some environmentalists.
"We're really pretty aggressive" about supporting DDT use against the mosquitoes that spread malaria, said Michael Miller, deputy assistant administrator of the Bureau of Global Health for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Added Richard Green, director of the Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition in USAID's global health bureau: "We think DDT is an excellent insecticide and that, in some circumstances, it has some advantages over some other insecticides that are available."
"We think DDT is safe when used correctly and are not aware of any human health risks," Mr. Green said.
Later this year, Mr. Miller said, USAID will begin using DDT as part of malaria-control efforts in three nations -- Mozambique, Ethiopia and Zambia. Nearly $10 million in federal funds has been allocated this year for "indoor residual spraying" in those three countries.
Of the $99 million that USAID is spending on malaria control this year, $20 million is being used for indoor spraying with DDT or one of the other 11 insecticides authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as malaria preventives, Mr. Green noted.
"Between 1 million and 1.5 million people will be protected," Mr. Green said. Mr. Miller said DDT may be used in Uganda next year.
But some environmentalists are disturbed by the U.S. government's change of heart concerning DDT.
Environmentalists liked things as they were previously, when USAID's malaria-prevention efforts focused primarily on handing out drug treatments and insecticide-treated bed netting to people living in areas at risk for heavy mosquito infestation.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
The US has over 1,200 cases of malaria each year.
like I suggested - do the research - you have the world of research at your fingertips.
IT'S ABOUT DAMNED TIME!!!
THE WORLD WIDE BAN OF DDT HAS MURDERED MORE INNOCENT LIFE THAN NAZIISM!!! And as usual, the leftist wackos were behind it!
Yah, but they also bought into Das Kapital and Dr. Spock. Now they're probably getting into the Ayatollahs Green Book of Goat Etiquette. Progressive!
You are the one who made an absolutely outrageous claim. Why should I spend all day proving that you are off your rocker?
Holy chest hairs, Batman, does that mean what I think it does?
Millions have died in agony thanks to the lies of environmentalists.
Turns out that it didn't, and Rachal Carson didn't know what she was talking about.
Thanks for the info. I didn't care if it did, I hate mosquitos more than I like birds.
LOL
I made no claim - merely posted an article from the Internet.
Take a chill pill
fifty years ago as a small child in Florida, we chased the DDT trucks down the street when they did the nightly foggings..
I am still alive, and have never had cancer..I am a huge DDT fan. The crap I spray my yard with to kill them these days..I swear I hear the mosquitos laughing at me.
We did the same thing- childishly reasoning "bad for bugs, good for us!" like kids do.
Don't know if it's in my links, but there was a Professor who a teaspoon of DDT every day for 40 years without harm.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.