MALARIA CONTROL IN TROPICAL AFRICA (REPRI NTED FROM BULLETIN OF THE WORLD-HEALTH-ORGANIZATION, VOL 15, PG 627-634, 1956)

Although spraying with insecticides has caused a spectacular repressio n in malaria in many parts of Africa, it cannot be said that the trans mission of the disease has been definitely interrupted in any large ar ea on the mainland. There is therefore some uneasiness regarding the m ethods so far adopted and doubts as to whether the very considerable e xpenditure involved is justified. There is, moreover, acute anxiety ab out the possible development of resistance to insecticides by the vect or anopheles. Fortunately, so far there does not appear to be any in A frica, and the author considers that the logical aim should be complet e eradication of malaria before resistance does appear to the powerful insecticides now available. Control measures must inevitably be conti nued indefinitely, but if the aim of eradication is achieved, operatio ns could cease and it would be possible for anopheles to co-exist with man without transmitting malaria. The author points out that before a ny continent-wide eradication campaign can be begun, there are, in add ition to the problem of funds, a number of other problems which must b e carefully studied. Among these are the lack of trained specialized s taff at all levels, transport difficulties, shortage of water over vas t areas in the dry season and floods during the rains, the differing h abits of the various African populations, and the biology of the vecto r mosquitos. Despite these problems, however, the time for concerted a ction to achieve eradication in Africa draws nearer with each succeedi ng day.