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How Malaria Was Eradicated In The U.S.

Description and Summary of the Issue

The free documentary titled “How Malaria Was Eradicated In The U.S.” provides an overview of the strategies and efforts that led to the elimination of malaria as a significant public health concern in the United States. It highlights the historical prevalence of malaria in the U.S., particularly in the southeastern states, and details the comprehensive measures implemented to combat the disease.

Key Strategies in Malaria Eradication in the United States:

  1. Drainage Projects: Extensive drainage initiatives were undertaken to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Between 1933 and 1940, approximately 33,655 miles of ditches were dug, effectively removing over half a million acres of Anopheles mosquito habitats. asm.org
  2. Insecticide Application: The use of insecticides, particularly DDT, played a crucial role. DDT was sprayed extensively in areas with high mosquito populations, significantly reducing the number of vectors responsible for malaria transmission. asm.org
  3. Improved Sanitation and Housing: Enhancements in sanitation and housing, such as the installation of window screens and better construction practices, reduced human exposure to mosquitoes. These improvements decreased the likelihood of mosquito bites and subsequent malaria transmission.
  4. Public Health Initiatives: The establishment of the Malaria Control in War Areas (MCWA) program in 1942 focused on controlling malaria around military bases in the southern U.S. This initiative laid the groundwork for future public health efforts and led to the creation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  5. National Malaria Eradication Program: Launched in 1947, this federal program, in collaboration with state and local agencies, implemented widespread mosquito control measures, including spraying homes with insecticides and draining wetlands. By 1951, malaria was considered eliminated as a major public health problem in the U.S. en.wikipedia.org

These combined efforts led to the successful eradication of malaria in the United States by the early 1950s. Today, the CDC continues to monitor and prevent malaria cases, primarily focusing on travelers returning from regions where malaria is still endemic. cdc.gov

Notes from the Documentary Producer


Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephaniesamma

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniesammann/


Credits:

Writer/Narrator/Editor: Stephanie Sammann

Animator: Mike Ridolfi https://www.moboxgraphics.com

Sound: Graham Haerther https://haerther.net

Illustrator: Kirtan Patel https://kpatart.com/illustrations

Thumbnail: Simon Buckmaster https://twitter.com/forgottentowel

Producer: Brian McManus https://www.youtube.com/c/realengineering


References:

[1]https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria#targetText=In%202017%2C%20there%20were%20an,and%2093%25%20of%20malaria%20deaths.

[2] https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/handle/1808/6338

[3] https://books.google.ie/books?hl=en&lr=&id=elLu3gSa-vUC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=10+++Humphreys+M++++++++++++.+Malaria:+poverty,+race,+and+public+health+in+the+United+States.+Baltimore+(MD):+Johns+Hopkins+University+Press%3B+++++++++++2001+++++++++++.+++++++++&ots=MNsHiEqgC1&sig=nlFonOwho3YiUobqwkwHMQIuL8c&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

[4] https://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/Malaria/chapterIII.htm

[5] https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdfplus/10.2105/AJPH.38.7.931

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4007881/#bib4

[7]https://books.google.ie/books?hl=en&lr=&id=elLu3gSa-vUC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=10+++Humphreys+M++++++++++++.+Malaria:+poverty,+race,+and+public+health+in+the+United+States.+Baltimore+(MD):+Johns+Hopkins+University+Press%3B+++++++++++2001+++++++++++.+++++++++&ots=MNsHiEqgC1&sig=nlFonOwho3YiUobqwkwHMQIuL8c&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

[8] https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdfplus/10.2105/AJPH.38.7.931

[9]https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/when-america-invested-infrastructure-these-beautiful-landmarks-were-result-180953570/

[10] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ddt-use-to-combat-malaria/

[11] https://www.healthline.com/health-news/why-some-countries-can-get-rid-of-malaria#1

[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3026700/

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