Nasty biting insects
Are a wretched curse
But the diseases that they carry
Are infinitely worse
Those Loa Loa Worms
Wriggling in your eyes
Are the lasting legacy
Of biting Deer Flies
Malaria and filaria
Are diseases we must purge
From the poorest folk in Africa
Living with this scourge
The jungles of Central Africa are a cauldron for new diseases including many strains of HIV and nasty haemorrhagic Ebola Virus. Many of these diseases have recently jumped the species barrier from primates to humans and the Global Viral Institute is working hard to prevent the next pandemic but it is not just new diseases that are a problem. The clearing of forest and the migration of people into new areas is increasing contact with mosquitoes, biting flies other vectors of disease. Cerebral malaria and several types of filarial infection in particular are increasing rapidly. Trypanosomiasis which causes sleeping sickness in humans as well as Cattle Trypanosomiasis through the bite of the Tsetse Fly (Glossina)is also on the rise despite the development of Trypanasome resistant cattle and mass spraying of insecticide to kill the vector.
Climate change is also having an impact. River Blindness, or Onchocerciasis is a filarial infection spread by the Black Fly which is rapidly spreading south into the tropical jungle areas from the savannah Sahel where it results in blindness rates of 3-5%. The problem is exacerbated by land clearing in combination with a drying climate which creates suitable conditions for the Black Fly vector. Loa Loa Eye Worm infections caused by a filaria spread by Deer and Mango Flies is also on the increase with 70% infection rates in some parts of Cameroon.
But what can be done? It is unthinkable that we don’t do all we can to eradicate these diseases and alleviate the immense suffering of local populations but we also have to be mindful of the environmental consequences of our actions. The eradication of the Tsetse Fly for example would result in large areas of rainforest being cleared for cattle grazing. Large scale insecticide spraying programmes will similarly have devastating ecological impacts. Neither strategy is the long term answer to achieving an appropriate balance between development and conservation. In the longer term a combination of education, poverty alleviation and medical treatment of impacted populations is likely to secure the best outcomes. And if you happen to be visiting these areas make sure you have your shots and always protect yourself from mosquitoes and biting flies.
Are a wretched curse
But the diseases that they carry
Are infinitely worse
Those Loa Loa Worms
Wriggling in your eyes
Are the lasting legacy
Of biting Deer Flies
Malaria and filaria
Are diseases we must purge
From the poorest folk in Africa
Living with this scourge
The jungles of Central Africa are a cauldron for new diseases including many strains of HIV and nasty haemorrhagic Ebola Virus. Many of these diseases have recently jumped the species barrier from primates to humans and the Global Viral Institute is working hard to prevent the next pandemic but it is not just new diseases that are a problem. The clearing of forest and the migration of people into new areas is increasing contact with mosquitoes, biting flies other vectors of disease. Cerebral malaria and several types of filarial infection in particular are increasing rapidly. Trypanosomiasis which causes sleeping sickness in humans as well as Cattle Trypanosomiasis through the bite of the Tsetse Fly (Glossina)is also on the rise despite the development of Trypanasome resistant cattle and mass spraying of insecticide to kill the vector.
Climate change is also having an impact. River Blindness, or Onchocerciasis is a filarial infection spread by the Black Fly which is rapidly spreading south into the tropical jungle areas from the savannah Sahel where it results in blindness rates of 3-5%. The problem is exacerbated by land clearing in combination with a drying climate which creates suitable conditions for the Black Fly vector. Loa Loa Eye Worm infections caused by a filaria spread by Deer and Mango Flies is also on the increase with 70% infection rates in some parts of Cameroon.
But what can be done? It is unthinkable that we don’t do all we can to eradicate these diseases and alleviate the immense suffering of local populations but we also have to be mindful of the environmental consequences of our actions. The eradication of the Tsetse Fly for example would result in large areas of rainforest being cleared for cattle grazing. Large scale insecticide spraying programmes will similarly have devastating ecological impacts. Neither strategy is the long term answer to achieving an appropriate balance between development and conservation. In the longer term a combination of education, poverty alleviation and medical treatment of impacted populations is likely to secure the best outcomes. And if you happen to be visiting these areas make sure you have your shots and always protect yourself from mosquitoes and biting flies.
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