Raj
Post No. 1
Topic Health
Title A Finding on Malaria Comes From Humble Origins
Author Donald G. McNeil Jr.
Publication Name NYTimes
Date of Publication September 27th, 2010
Words 952
Main Ideas: Dr. Beatrice H. Hahn of the University of Alabama has discovered after studying primate fecal samples over the years the the most deadly form of Malaria, the falciparum strain, originated from gorillas not chimps. It had been previously thought that Malaria came from the chimpanzees of Africa, not the gorillas. Though the discovery doesn't do anything to directly stop Malaria, it does however show that the virus could not be reintroducted back into the population if it were to ever be stamped out because it was from a mutated parasite in one gorilla from many many years ago. In 1932 Rockefeller Foundation campaign to end yellow fever that had lasted for 17 years because their scientists found out reintroduction of the disease couldn't be stopped, so this information is invaluable. Dr. Hahn studied 2,700 fecal samples from all over Africa to come to this realization. Ape Malaria has been studied to try to help with Malaria in humans since 1907. Dr. Hahn's finding was published last Thursday in the science journal, Nature.
Conclusion: Scientists are making progress in the fight against Malaria in Africa. Dr. Beatrice H. Hahn has been finding out more about this virus by studying its origins in apes. And through this study she has found that Malaria started in gorillas, not chimps and that reintroduction of Malaria would be highly unlikely if it was ever wiped of the face of the Earth.
Does this mean eradicating gorillas or am I misunderstanding your article. Because if that is what this suggests in order to eliminate Malaria then those scientist are going to get a lot of resistance from animal activists.
ReplyDeletehaha @ the other comment. But on a serious note i'm not sure what the article is trying to say. I think what it is saying is that if we can eliminate malaria in humans there is a great chance of it being gone for good but i'm not sure. Also i'm sorry for the guy who had to collect all that poo :(.
ReplyDeleteI think this is great news because the more we find out about malaria the easier it will be to get rid of it. Hopefully, the part where if we got rid of malaria entirely it would be unlikely to be reintroduced will inspire people to get rid of it once and for all. I don't really understand how knowing that it originated in gorillas helps though.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how malaria is beginning to become treatable in Africa. Hopefully, the riddence of malaria will better the world.
ReplyDeleteI liked the article but I could not really see how it helped scientists find a cure for malaria any time soon. While it is good to know that if it was wiped out, it would not be able to return, it is first important to actually find the cure for malaria.
ReplyDeleteinteresting, however I don't think eliminating Gorillas or chimps will solve the problem. Ha. maybe someone should take a closer look at the mosquitoes that carry it.
ReplyDelete