Malaria - You Can Help
Malaria isn’t even on the radar screen of most people in the US, but it is a huge global problem! Did you know that a child dies from malaria in Africa every 30 seconds? That is seven jumbo jets of children everyday. A powerful video has been produced by the Against Malaria organization.
Malaria is spread through mosquitoes that bite at night and can’t be spread person to person without a mosquito vector. This means using bed nets is an effective way to prevent the spread of malaria. Using bed nets is something that can be used right now while scientists continue to work on other methods (like vaccines, GM mosquitoes, better treatment options…)
A team of us at the Science Museum of Minnesota is developing an exhibition about infectious diseases called Disease Detectives which will open in the Human Body Gallery in January 2008. We feel stopping the spread of malaria is very important and have started our own page to encourage others to help too by donating funds for the purchase of bed nets. Each bed net costs only $5 and 100% of the money goes to purchase bed nets. For more information go to www.AgainstMalaria.com/DiseaseDetectives.
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This is very helpful
You can also help by contributing to Nothing But Nets, www.nothingbutnets.com
being sponsored by NBA, Sports Illustrated and the United Methodist Church and funds are being matched by Bill and Melinda Gates!
Michigan State University is encouraging students to participate in Nothing But Nets.
This was very interesting! Thank you. I never knew!
This is so cool on learning stuff.
This has been a very valuable and interesting time we currently have. Thanks for the exhibit and thanks for the info.
this was one of the most interesting things i have ever seen and it is way better than being in school
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has found that pregnant women who live in areas where malaria is endemic and sleep under insecticide treated bed nets are 1/3 less likely to suffer miscarriages or stillbirths. And the number of low birth weight babies was reduced by about 25%.
Malaria kills about a million people a year; 90% of them are in Africa, and most of them are children.
Even though insecticide treated bednets have a huge impact on the health of young children and pregnant women, and even though they only cost $4-5, they're too expensive for many families to buy.
You can buy/donate bed nets through the Against Malaria website.
amazing!! wow, this is wierd but cool?
Pfcrmp may play a key role in Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance
http://pcwww.liv.ac.uk/~gaode/Pfcrmp.pdf
`it's amazing that something so simple and inexpensive can prevent a potentially fatal disease.
hello, my name is rosie. i apppreciate how much you are doing for us..this is a fantastic experience! it's relly great to know that u will be holding science exipbits and making the world a better plce to live in
Resa says, "It's important that people learn as much as they can about Science of medical issues. That way they can be properly informed before they vote.
In what parts of the United States can mosquitoes with Malaria be found? in what seasons of the year?
For the most part malaria is no longer found in the United States. Most people diagnosed here have recently been traveling in malaria endemic regions of the world. And a handful of cases by people living near international airports. Malaria is a major problem in other parts of the world.
Malaria in the Western HemisphereCourtesy CDC
Malaria in the Eastern HemisphereCourtesy CDC
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