Somehow I doubt that Malaria ever was the same big problem in Europe as it was in Africa. Wasn't Malaria the main thing impeding Europeans in Africa? They should have been used to Malaria if it had been so common in Europe.
If Malaria was in Europe, perhaps it was at a much smaller scale?
Malaria used to be as big a problem in over 60% of the continental United States, and the south of Europe, as it is in sub-Saharan Africa. It was stopped with widespread mosquito habitat destruction and chemical abatement.
Here is a map the CDC produced which displays, in graphic detail, how these efforts succeeded.
There is, currently, no significant portion of the continental United States in which malaria is a major health conern. If there was, we would start spraying absolutely anything required to kill it, because Americans don't let their kids die to avoid pissing off the environmental lobby.
> because Americans don't let their kids die to avoid pissing off the environmental lobby.
Don't point that at everyone. I'm an American, and a father-to-be. I would rather deal with the issue in a way that is morally responsible, than just "do whatever it takes to prevent any harm from coming to my child."
I'm an American, a father of two, and about as far to the opposite end of the political spectrum from Patrick as you can get, and if we're voting, I'm with him. Kill the damned mosquitos. I've had a kid in the hospital for something very serious before.
It's not as simple as "kill the mosquitos." What if "kill the mosquitos" meant "burn down all the forest and destroy all of the wetlands." Are you about to destroy the world to save your child?
It says a lot about me that I don't even consider this to be a difficult question: I would burn every forest, pave every wetland, and dance over every eggshell to save one African kid I have never met.
That said, it is a false choice. Look at the CDC graphs: we've already annihilated malaria on two continents. North America and Europe strike me as pretty livable. I'm quite willing to do that everywhere.
That sounds a bit silly though - as you said, a false choice. Surely you wouldn't want to pave over the whole continent. There are other ways to save the children than to destroy everything. It's also a question if humans have to expand everywhere.
If it all is such a no-brainer for you, I wonder what other choices you make in your life to save lives in 3rd world countries? For example CO2 consumption? To be honest, I don't buy your no-brainer attitude.
I have to consider whether killing mosquitos creates a world where I'll eventually have to teach my kids to painlessly kill themselves, a la The Road, but apart from that for my own family it's an absolute no brainer.
I don't know the backgrounds, but I thought that essentially having DDT in the food chain is undesirable.
Would you spray your backyard with DDT to save an African kid? Granted, if it was the only way, maybe, but overall I personally would rather not (then I would rather put up a tent for the African kid and relocate it to my DDT free backyard).
Actually, window screens were as important as chemical abatement. That's why installed screens are required in much of the US for a new house to receive a "habitation permit" (in quotes because different jurisdictions use different words). And I remember an article years ago, that providing window and door screens for Africans would substantially improve their health, but nobody was interested in doing or funding it because it wasn't flashy enough.
Interesting, but somehow I doubt that spraying did the trick. Maybe it was destruction of the habitats. I suppose with spraying you would have to keep spraying, which I think isn't happening? Isn't DDT outlawed now?
Perhaps changes in farming also contribute (are humans the only animals that pass on Malaria, or would cows work, too?).
Also I think if I were a father, I would weigh pros and cons. Mosquitos are bad, toxic chemicals are bad, too. It might vary from situation to situation which one is the greater risk.
If Malaria was in Europe, perhaps it was at a much smaller scale?