Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
04 September 2013 09:26
Over 600,000 people died from the malaria in 2010, most African children
With mosquitoes becoming ever more resistant to insecticides, scientists claim there is a growing need for different approaches to help control malaria.
The disease is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions in a broad band around the equator, particularly in Africa and Asia.
Symptoms typically include fever and headache, which in severe cases can progress to coma or death, and researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine want to see more done to prevent malaria from spreading.
They believe targeting mosquito breeding sites is likely to be increasingly necessary to reduce cases of malaria in Africa and Asia.
Although the number of deaths from malaria has fallen by a quarter in the last decade, more than 600,000 people died from the disease in 2010.
The widespread distribution of mosquito nets treated with insecticides and the use of indoor insecticide sprays has helped curb malaria to a certain extent, but the scientists warn the insects are becoming increasingly resistant to these chemicals.
They propose authorities should also use a method called "larval source management" to help keep the disease under control.
This is where mosquito larvae found in stagnant water like paddy fields or ditches are killed off by draining or flushing the land before they get a chance to develop. It also involves something called larviciding, where chemicals are added to standing water.
The method was found to significantly reduce both the number of cases of malaria by up to 75% and the proportion of people infected with the malaria parasite by up to 90% when used in appropriate settings.
But despite the findings, the World Health Organization claims the research is not robust enough to support larval source management, and it is not recommended for use in rural areas where breeding grounds are hard to find.
Travellers heading to continents such as Africa and Asia should therefore continue to use the various insecticides on offer in shops. They should also protect themselves with medical travel insurance for added peace of mind.
18 January 2019
A plant-based diet is needed to protect future generations and safeguard the wellbeing of the planet, according to experts.
[more...]
17 January 2019
Campaigners are protesting outside the High Court in London as the legal challenge against Heathrow Airport's controversial expansion ramps up.
16 January 2019
A new way to predict a woman's risk of breast cancer has been unveiled by scientists - and it's the most comprehensive method yet.
15 January 2019
NHS commissioners could be slapped with a £2,500 fine for every patient left waiting more than a year for vital care, new proposals suggest.
12 January 2019
All UK airports should buy anti-drone technology and not rely on the Royal Air Force to help out, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said.
10 January 2019
The military was brought in on Tuesday night after police officers saw a drone operating at Heathrow Airport, forcing departures to be suspended for an hour.
11 January 2019
A so-called "drug sponge" that mops up leftover drugs from cancer treatment could improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, new research has claimed.
09 January 2019
A hormone released during exercise could help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.
08 January 2019
Ryanair has been labelled the worst airline operating in the UK for the sixth year running in a leading consumer group survey.
05 January 2019
Anti-drone technology will be deployed at the UK's two busiest airports in response to the disruption caused before Christmas.
04 January 2019
A new cancer-detecting breathalyser test is being trialled in the UK - in a move that could revolutionise the way the disease is diagnosed.
03 January 2019
The average 10-year-old child will have already eaten more sugar in their life than the maximum amount recommended for 18-year-olds, a new study reveals.