Malaria and rabies are worse than AIDS
Once again Aids is in vogue with a new book of "expert opinion" from former UN/World Health Organisation Aids worker Elizabeth Pisani, claiming that the anti-retroviral medicines used on the HIV positive simply mask the problem rather than solving it, creating a multi-million-pound industry in the process.
Ms Pisani is reiterating the obvious: the trouble is that until now those doing so were usually from the anti-gay and anti-junkie lobbies (religious fundamentalists and the far-right).
Aids kills someone on this planet every five minutes, according to Unicef (and contrary to the gay lobby's claim of every minute). That ghastly accolade belongs to rabies, and even it is no competition for malaria's mortality rate of one every 30 seconds, and which all the insecticides and mosquito nets in the world have failed to halt.
The result of our half-hearted war is that there is now a malarial strain resistant to the chloroquine drugs that have kept it in check for over a century, condemning three million a year to a painful death, and a staggering half-billion others to sickness. Meanwhile, the "mad death" literally runs riot worldwide (especially in China), primarily because governments hush up cases out of fear it will have a detrimental effect on tourism, and to prevent panic.
Billions of taxpayers' money
worldwide are thrown at a disease that can take years just to reach the HIV stage - let alone kill - while a fraction of that thrown at malaria and rabies would see two of the greatest scourges to all life, not just mankind, pushed to the periphery. Until they kill a few celebrities, as has Aids, the truth is the majority of "civilisation" won't give a damn.
Mark Boyle, Johnstone.
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without
permission is prohibited.
Posted by: Harry, Bishopbriggs on 12:43am Mon 5 May 08
It may not be nice to say it, but AIDS has always been kept in the headlines by the gay lobby and their media friends.
Malaria on the other hand is out of sight to most people so it does not get the same exposure. Having worked in a malarial region I can say that the bed net campaigns do help people avoid bites when asleep, but when people sit outside until bedtime, as the poor mostly do, they still get bitten.
The young dress for fashion and leave their skin exposed, which makes them vulnerable. The old and the young are the worst affected.
Three weeks ago, an old grandmother whom I had got to befriend got struck down and despite being nursed in a new clinic, died within four days. Treatments sometimes work and sometimes they don't.
A lot of countries are trying to stop the spread of AIDS by demanding HIV tests with visa applications, which should help if it is adopted universally and kept up.
It may not be nice to say it, but AIDS has always been kept in the headlines by the gay lobby and their media friends.
Malaria on the other hand is out of sight to most people so it does not get the same exposure. Having worked in a malarial region I can say that the bed net campaigns do help people avoid bites when asleep, but when people sit outside until bedtime, as the poor mostly do, they still get bitten.
The young dress for fashion and leave their skin exposed, which makes them vulnerable. The old and the young are the worst affected.
Three weeks ago, an old grandmother whom I had got to befriend got struck down and despite being nursed in a new clinic, died within four days. Treatments sometimes work and sometimes they don't.
A lot of countries are trying to stop the spread of AIDS by demanding HIV tests with visa applications, which should help if it is adopted universally and kept up.
Posted by: FIFER, Anstruther,Fife on 8:11am Mon 5 May 08
Harry I agree. The spread of Aids-HIV+ is caused by people themselves be it drug addicts sharing, having dangerous sexual practice. Not only in the gay sections but elsewhere. Some are innocent. One women I know contracted Aids due to her husband having sex with another woman in a one night stand.
Harry I agree. The spread of Aids-HIV+ is caused by people themselves be it drug addicts sharing, having dangerous sexual practice. Not only in the gay sections but elsewhere. Some are innocent. One women I know contracted Aids due to her husband having sex with another woman in a one night stand.
Posted by: angiebobs, possilpark on 10:23am Mon 5 May 08
Its sad that in the 21st century we have are reduced to debating which killer diseases we should be putting money into treating or curing!
The truth is that leaders around world would rather spend billions on wars or weapons to kill people than medicines and health care to save poeple. This is where we should be concentrating our efforts - into getting our govts to prioritise health amd not more death. If they did this then we could treat malaria, rabies, tb, and hiv.At the minute NONE are being adequately dealt with.
We shouldnt be diverted into arguing who are the most deserving of treatment or blaming the victimes of diseases for being ill.
Its sad that in the 21st century we have are reduced to debating which killer diseases we should be putting money into treating or curing!
The truth is that leaders around world would rather spend billions on wars or weapons to kill people than medicines and health care to save poeple. This is where we should be concentrating our efforts - into getting our govts to prioritise health amd not more death. If they did this then we could treat malaria, rabies, tb, and hiv.At the minute NONE are being adequately dealt with.
We shouldnt be diverted into arguing who are the most deserving of treatment or blaming the victimes of diseases for being ill.
Posted by: Politically-incorrec
t Man, Glasgow on 12:52pm Mon 5 May 08
HIV is a viral disease that can be spread by transfer of body fluids. Apart from the affluent West where we know the method of transmission, has it ever struck you that the areas where it is endemic are the same as where other mosquito-borne viral diseases and malaria are prevalent.
To simply blame the prevalence of HIV in these areas on sexual transmission is to ignore the obvious.
HIV is also transmitted by the passage of infected blood by mosquito-bite; the authorities will not release that information because of the panic it would create.
HIV is a viral disease that can be spread by transfer of body fluids. Apart from the affluent West where we know the method of transmission, has it ever struck you that the areas where it is endemic are the same as where other mosquito-borne viral diseases and malaria are prevalent.
To simply blame the prevalence of HIV in these areas on sexual transmission is to ignore the obvious.
HIV is also transmitted by the passage of infected blood by mosquito-bite; the authorities will not release that information because of the panic it would create.
Posted by: TommyK60, Ayr on 2:12pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote]Malaria on the other hand is out of sight to most people so it does not get the same exposure. Having worked in a malarial region I can say that the bed net campaigns do help people avoid bites when asleep, but when people sit outside until bedtime, as the poor mostly do, they still get bitten[/quote]
Until so-called celebrities start dropping dead from malaria and rabies it won't get the publicity it needs.
[quote]HIV is also transmitted by the passage of infected blood by mosquito-bite; the authorities will not release that information because of the panic it would create.[/quote]
Do you have evidence for this or is it another urban myth, I'm not disbelieving you, it's just this is the first time I've seen this mentioned as a transmission source for AIDS.
Malaria on the other hand is out of sight to most people so it does not get the same exposure. Having worked in a malarial region I can say that the bed net campaigns do help people avoid bites when asleep, but when people sit outside until bedtime, as the poor mostly do, they still get bitten
Until so-called celebrities start dropping dead from malaria and rabies it won't get the publicity it needs.
HIV is also transmitted by the passage of infected blood by mosquito-bite; the authorities will not release that information because of the panic it would create.
Do you have evidence for this or is it another urban myth, I'm not disbelieving you, it's just this is the first time I've seen this mentioned as a transmission source for AIDS.
Posted by: Politically-incorrec
t Man, Glasgow on 5:48pm Mon 5 May 08
http://www.mosquito.
org/mosquito-informa
tion/mosquito-borne.
aspx
The principal that the mosquito and other biting insects can transmit viral diseases is well recognised and the argument that the HIV virus will be destroyed by the digestive system of the mosquito flies in the face of the insect being a proven vector for the spread of other viral diseases.
The other factor to take into consideration is the explosion of AIDs/ HIV in areas where the mosquito and other viral diseases transmitted by them are endemic compared with the pattern of spread in regions where the mosquito is absent.
To blame the quantum leap in spread of HIV solely on promiscuity in these “foreign countries” is facile and an insult to them and our intelligence.
If it has a beak, webbed feet and walks like a duck, the chances are it is a duck!
http://www.mosquito.
org/mosquito-informa
tion/mosquito-borne.
aspx
The principal that the mosquito and other biting insects can transmit viral diseases is well recognised and the argument that the HIV virus will be destroyed by the digestive system of the mosquito flies in the face of the insect being a proven vector for the spread of other viral diseases.
The other factor to take into consideration is the explosion of AIDs/ HIV in areas where the mosquito and other viral diseases transmitted by them are endemic compared with the pattern of spread in regions where the mosquito is absent.
To blame the quantum leap in spread of HIV solely on promiscuity in these “foreign countries” is facile and an insult to them and our intelligence.
If it has a beak, webbed feet and walks like a duck, the chances are it is a duck!
Posted by: TommyK60, Ayr on 6:58pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote]The principal that the mosquito and other biting insects can transmit viral diseases is well recognised and the argument that the HIV virus will be destroyed by the digestive system of the mosquito flies in the face of the insect being a proven vector for the spread of other viral diseases.
[/quote]
Thanks for the info, I'll look up your suggested link, as I said I hadn't seen this as a possible/probable cause of HIV/AIDS being spread, I'm always happy to gain more knowledge
The principal that the mosquito and other biting insects can transmit viral diseases is well recognised and the argument that the HIV virus will be destroyed by the digestive system of the mosquito flies in the face of the insect being a proven vector for the spread of other viral diseases.
Thanks for the info, I'll look up your suggested link, as I said I hadn't seen this as a possible/probable cause of HIV/AIDS being spread, I'm always happy to gain more knowledge
Posted by: Colin Wilson, Aberdeen on 7:59pm Mon 5 May 08
Re Politically-incorrec t Man, Glasgow, 5:48pm[quote] The other factor to take into consideration is the explosion of AIDs/ HIV in areas where the mosquito and other viral diseases transmitted by them are endemic compared with the pattern of spread in regions where the mosquito is absent.[/quote] There are parts of the world where mosquitoes are rife, but are not known for spreading disease. The Nordic countries are an obvious example. Has there been a case of HIV contracted from a mosquito bite in Norway, Sweden, or Finland?
Re Politically-incorrec t Man, Glasgow, 5:48pm
The other factor to take into consideration is the explosion of AIDs/ HIV in areas where the mosquito and other viral diseases transmitted by them are endemic compared with the pattern of spread in regions where the mosquito is absent.
There are parts of the world where mosquitoes are rife, but are not known for spreading disease. The Nordic countries are an obvious example. Has there been a case of HIV contracted from a mosquito bite in Norway, Sweden, or Finland?
Posted by: Politically-incorrec
t Man, Glasgow on 9:43pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote][bold]Colin Wilson[/bold] wrote:
Re Politically-incorrec t Man, Glasgow, 5:48pm[quote] The other factor to take into consideration is the explosion of AIDs/ HIV in areas where the mosquito and other viral diseases transmitted by them are endemic compared with the pattern of spread in regions where the mosquito is absent.[/quote] There are parts of the world where mosquitoes are rife, but are not known for spreading disease. The Nordic countries are an obvious example. Has there been a case of HIV contracted from a mosquito bite in Norway, Sweden, or Finland?[/quote] The answer is that it is impossible to prove either way.
My point is that the mosquito is a proven vector for viral disease that unlike malaria does not have part of its life-cycle within the mosquito, the bug is just an opportunistic temporary host.
If it happens with EEE virus and many others why not HIV? It is as plausible an explanation as that the "ignorant natives" are shagging their way to extinction
Colin Wilson wrote:
Re Politically-incorrec t Man, Glasgow, 5:48pm The other factor to take into consideration is the explosion of AIDs/ HIV in areas where the mosquito and other viral diseases transmitted by them are endemic compared with the pattern of spread in regions where the mosquito is absent.
There are parts of the world where mosquitoes are rife, but are not known for spreading disease. The Nordic countries are an obvious example. Has there been a case of HIV contracted from a mosquito bite in Norway, Sweden, or Finland?
The answer is that it is impossible to prove either way.
My point is that the mosquito is a proven vector for viral disease that unlike malaria does not have part of its life-cycle within the mosquito, the bug is just an opportunistic temporary host.
If it happens with EEE virus and many others why not HIV? It is as plausible an explanation as that the "ignorant natives" are shagging their way to extinction
Posted by: Harry, Bishopbriggs on 10:47pm Mon 5 May 08
I was at a meeting in Africa a few years back where we were addressed by an American expert in Malaria, who visited every couple of years.
Someone asked him about HIV and mosquitos and his reply was that it was not possible for this to happen. He could have be wrong I suppose, but if there was a link I am sure it would have come to light by now.
The areas I know of that have high Malaria levels are not the same ones as have high HIV levels. I have read that HIV dies off instantly if it is not at a certain temperature, so I don't know if this may be the reason that mosquitos are not suspected.
A lot of the effort into controlling malaria is directed against the mosquito, but every mosquito enters the world untainted by malaria. Maybe the control effort should be directed to the human (and any other??) species from which the mosquito picks up the parasite.
I was at a meeting in Africa a few years back where we were addressed by an American expert in Malaria, who visited every couple of years.
Someone asked him about HIV and mosquitos and his reply was that it was not possible for this to happen. He could have be wrong I suppose, but if there was a link I am sure it would have come to light by now.
The areas I know of that have high Malaria levels are not the same ones as have high HIV levels. I have read that HIV dies off instantly if it is not at a certain temperature, so I don't know if this may be the reason that mosquitos are not suspected.
A lot of the effort into controlling malaria is directed against the mosquito, but every mosquito enters the world untainted by malaria. Maybe the control effort should be directed to the human (and any other??) species from which the mosquito picks up the parasite.
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