 | | | | | A1) Malaria | | i) The female mosquito transmits malaria. The mosquito feeds on human blood and while doing this it transmits the malaria disease to the human host. The mosquito only breeds in hot climates where there is stagnant water, sheltered vegetation and a source of blood to feed on, human or animal. As such malaria is widespread in Africa, Asia and South America. | | | ii) There are several ways of controlling the disease. Insecticides can be used to kill the mosquitoes, stagnant water can be drained and protective clothing and mosquito nets can be used to prevent mosquito bites. Drugs can be used on people infected by malaria to combat its effects. An example of an anti-malaria project would be in Zambia where the W.H.O./UNICEFs Rollback Malaria project has provided insecticide-treated mosquito nets to help cut down the number of malaria-related deaths. | | A2) Cholera. | | i) Cholera is a water-borne disease that is mainly spread by contaminated water. The lack of proper sanitation and sewers in some poor countries means that human waste can often find its way into water supplies. People drink the water and become very ill as a result. Unhygienic food preparation can also cause cholera outbreaks. Food washed in contaminated water or not washing hands properly before handling food can infect the food. People then eating the food run the risk of becoming ill. | | | | ii) Control measures include installing efficient sanitation and sewers to make sure drinking water isnt contaminated by human waste. Providing a safe source of drinking water can also halt the spread of the disease. Community education can teach people how to prepare and cook food safely. Drugs can be used to treat people who are already ill with the disease. An example of an anti-cholera project would be the Save the Children project in Ethiopia that installed a series of safe water tanks and wells away from potential sources of contamination. The project also helped educate the local population about the dangers of drinking unsafe water. | | | | |
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