Tuesday 23 February 2016

Zika Pt 3- or we really don't know!



"Brazilian state suspends larvicide used to combat Zika virus"

This article published a week ago in a Brazilian newspaper reports that the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul suspended the use of a larvicide used to eliminate mosquitoes, particularly aimed at Zika virus control.   The larvicide in question is Pyriproxyfen.  The measure was taken was taken after an Argentinian based Physicians group, specialists in crop spraying questioned whether the larvicide rather than the Zika virus might be the cause of the microcephaly.  As with Zika, no causative relationship has been established, so we are still at the hypothesizing (or guessing) stage.  The product has been approved by the World Health Organization since 2004 and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since 2001.  This clearly indicates the need for further precise and definitive research.  The funds would be available if only we could learn to redirect resources from the many 'mickey mouse'* research projects we are wasting money on today.  

*Apologies to Mickey Mouse.


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