Malaria Epidemic?

Question

"Banning DDT killed more people than Adolph Hitler"
Agree or disagree? Some studies have shown that DDT doesnt even harm wildlife.

Answer 1

It's a delicate question to pose.

I wouldn't Godwin the argument the way you did, but as a public health professional who works in infectious disease epidemiology, I do agree with the point that the ban on DDT seriously hampered efforts to reduce the numbers of mosquitoes in malaria endemic countries.

While some studies have shown that DDT may not be as harmful as we believe it to be, I do believe there is still a harm in using that pesticide. After the ban on DDT, there was less incidence of thinned eggshells in wild birds. I think that speaks for a lot.

Still, the issue is which is the greater priority? Do we reinstate the use of DDT to spare lives? Or do we take a precautionary approach to caring for the environment?

I think there needs to be at least some DDT use, preferably limited to the most severely malaria-endemic regions. In the mean time, humankind could benefit greatly by the development of more anti-malarial drugs, and better mosquito abatement techniques.