Malaria Control in South America— Response to P.C. Matteson
1999
Response to P.C. Matteson on Malaria Control in South America
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Roberts Donald R., Laughlin Larry L.
Primary Institution: The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Hypothesis
Is drug resistance the main factor contributing to increasing malaria rates in South America?
Conclusion
The increase in malaria rates is correlated with the decline of DDT use rather than drug resistance or public health system deterioration.
Supporting Evidence
- Malaria rates increased in Central America where drug resistance is unknown.
- DDT use previously cleared malaria from southern Brazil, indicating its effectiveness.
- Persistent urban malaria is becoming a problem again since DDT has been eliminated.
Takeaway
The study suggests that stopping the use of DDT led to more malaria cases, not just drug resistance or health system issues.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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