This simple solution greatly lowered child mortality from Malaria.
A Insecticide
B Mosquito Repellant
C Mosquito Nets
D Mosquito Fish
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is C. Mosquito Nets.
Mosquito nets, particularly insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), have proven to be one of the most effective and simple solutions for preventing malaria. These nets serve as a physical barrier to keep mosquitoes, particularly the Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria, from biting people while they sleep.
Malaria is a deadly disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The primary method of preventing malaria transmission is to avoid mosquito bites, and using mosquito nets during sleep significantly reduces this risk. When these nets are treated with insecticides, they offer an additional layer of protection by killing or repelling mosquitoes that come into contact with the net.
The widespread distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets has had a significant impact on reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria is endemic. Studies have shown that the use of ITNs has resulted in substantial declines in malaria incidence and child mortality rates, particularly in areas where the burden of the disease is highest.
Other methods of malaria prevention, such as insecticides (option A) and mosquito repellents (option B), may also help reduce mosquito contact, but they are less effective than mosquito nets in providing consistent, long-term protection, especially in regions with high transmission rates. Additionally, mosquito fish (option D) may help control mosquito populations in stagnant water but are not directly responsible for reducing malaria-related deaths in humans.
In summary, mosquito nets, especially insecticide-treated ones, have been one of the most successful and cost-effective interventions in the fight against malaria, significantly lowering child mortality rates from the disease.