This article discusses how areas, such as South East Asia, are having problems with resistant strain of malaria. The new goal is to eradicate the strain so it is no longer a problem. The WHO and other health organizations are all trying to find a way to do this. One of the actions would be to keep this strain in one specific spot. Like quarantine almost, until the problem is solved. The authors of this article have stated their plan, which seems easy. However, nothing is that easy. In reality, the strain will not simply be kept in one area. Also, bed nets and the usual method of prevention are not working, which will lead to more people being infected. The problem will not be fixed until a new strain of drugs is invented. Although that strain could be eradicated, there will be a new form that will become resistant to that drug also. It is a vicious cycle, that is stressful to keep up with. This specific instance is just for malaria, but this issue occurs for many other viral/bacteria strains.
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1108322
Many of the methods and plans to eradicate malaria seem to be great in theory, yet in practice fall short. Something always happens: people do not like to sleep under stuffy bed nets, quarantine fails, a new strand develops, and the like. However, these plans can be used to slow the spread of especially resistant strains. There seems to be no final solution to this cycle, but organizations need to keep on fighting.
ReplyDeleteIt’s so awful to know that malaria is being spread so quickly. I hope this plan goes through because a lot of times plans don’t. This plan reminds me of the same plan the world has to stop poverty. The only thing is that poverty was not stopped. I hope this plan pulls through unlike the poverty one. It would be a great thing to end the spread of malaria.
ReplyDeleteMalaria is one of the hardest disease to control. It is not like AIDS/HIV where you can prevent with some common sense. Mosquitoes are everywhere and preventing bits is very hard. Also like you said, there can be other stains that can develop so all the effort to fight against malaria with medication could be useless.
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