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Thursday, September 9, 2010

India : Dengue control - DDT back in reckoning

An article from Indian Express :

" Some countries start using controversial insecticide, Delhi keeps an eye on results
DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl- trichloroethane), the weapon of choice against malaria till three decades ago, could make a comeback to take on dengue.

Earlier, mosquitoes had become resistant to the insecticide due to overuse. But, new reports from countries like Zambia and Uganda suggest DDT is again becoming effective against certain types of mosquitos. The cheap chemical was banned by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2004 due to its impact on human health and the environment. But in 2006 the WHO gave a clean chit and said DDT can be safely used in public health programmes. DDT had helped considerably in the eradication of malaria from southern Europe and North America in the 1960s. "

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