Why aren’t we using DDT to combat Zika-bearing mosquitoes? – IOTW Report

Why aren’t we using DDT to combat Zika-bearing mosquitoes?

NRD: The Zika virus is not a foreign problem anymore. U.S. territories are being exposed, U.S. citizens are being exposed and people around the world are traveling with the disease.

Currently, Congress is contemplating certain actions being taken, but new research and development is not needed because the answer has been around since the 1950s, but environmentalists don’t want to admit it. It is dichlorodiphenyltrichlororethane, or DDT.

As of May 2016 only 4 states do not have reported cases of the Zika virus, a virus which the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims is spread by infected mosquitoes and causes a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as severe fetal brain defects. The center notes that that “on February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Local transmission has been reported in many other countries and territories. Zika virus will likely continue to spread to new areas.”

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12 Comments on Why aren’t we using DDT to combat Zika-bearing mosquitoes?

  1. Use DDT? But, but, but, it thins the shell of condor and eagle eggs, and they’ll die! You cruel and heartless monster! Don’t you understand that in order to save an endangered species, creating a few hundred thousand micro-headed babies is acceptable? And babies don’t really need any real quality of life, everyone knows this.

    Sarc off

  2. My dad used DDT on the farm back in the 40’s. No flys, no mosquitoes, no fleas.
    It was really great stuff. We had two 55 gal. drums till about 1955 when they ran out.
    Back came the flys etc.

  3. In 1945, my dad was a young Marine on Midway Island. The Marines could not perform their jobs as the sand fleas were so thick, they could barely breath. One day, they were told to stay inside their tents and a flight of four converted B-17 spray planes crisscrossed the island dousing everything with DDT. The next day there wasn’t a flea alive and the Marines went back to their business without ill effects.

  4. Something I’ve never understood is why someone somewhere isn’t making DDT right now. The formula is public knowledge and it can’t be that difficult to make. Any little podunk African country could say “screw you” to all the 1st-world countries and not only make DDT for their own people but enough to sell to anyone else who wanted it… and I’m sure it would be wanted.

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