Malaria, DDT and the Rich

An excellent editorial in todays New York Times concerning the use of DDT to control malaria in poor countries where the disease is endemic.

The eradication of malaria in rich countries turned out to be the worst thing that happened for people with malaria in poor countries. Malaria lost its constituency, and the money dried up.

The USA and Southern Europe used DDT to eradicate malaria. They were then convinced that DDT was an environmental hazzard and banned its use. Developing, malaria-ridden, countries were then forced to bear the consequences.