Comments on: Let Us Not Forget About Carbon http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5160 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:36:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mark Bahner http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5160&cpage=1#comment-13617 Mark Bahner Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:58:56 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5160#comment-13617 Hi, The first statement in the Summary of the WHO Malaria 2008 report is interesting: http://www.who.int/malaria/wmr2008/malaria2008.pdf "There were an estimated 247 million malaria cases among 3.3 billion people at risk in 2006, causing nearly a million deaths, mostly of children under 5 years. 109 countries were endemic for malaria in 2008, 45 within the WHO African region." But if one goes to Table 3.1, one sees that the number of reported deaths worldwide is only 161,000...and the number of estimated deaths is 881,000. So the substantial majority of those "nearly a million deaths" are estimated deaths, not reported deaths. Hi,

The first statement in the Summary of the WHO Malaria 2008 report is interesting:

http://www.who.int/malaria/wmr2008/malaria2008.pdf

“There were an estimated 247 million malaria cases among 3.3 billion people at risk in 2006, causing nearly a million deaths, mostly of children under 5 years. 109 countries were endemic for malaria in 2008, 45 within the WHO African region.”

But if one goes to Table 3.1, one sees that the number of reported deaths worldwide is only 161,000…and the number of estimated deaths is 881,000.

So the substantial majority of those “nearly a million deaths” are estimated deaths, not reported deaths.

]]> By: Mark Bahner http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5160&cpage=1#comment-13604 Mark Bahner Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:57:34 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5160#comment-13604 The dramatic contraction of malaria during a century of warming suggests that economic forces might be just as important as climate in determining pathogen ranges,” Mr Lafferty says. He must be British. They're masters of understatement. The dramatic contraction of malaria during a century of warming suggests that economic forces might be just as important as climate in determining pathogen ranges,” Mr Lafferty says.

He must be British. They’re masters of understatement.

]]> By: dean http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5160&cpage=1#comment-13603 dean Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:14:50 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5160#comment-13603 But there has been success in eradicating malaria in many temperate regions, but in almost no tropical regions. Malaria may exist in colder climates - when it isn't cold, i.e. the summer. The point is that it is much easier to eradicate malaria when there is a season in which mosquitoes cannot live. This gives controlling regimens a free period of time to plan when the mosquitoes can't come back at you. So while climate is not the sole factor in diseases like this, a broadening of regions with year-round livable conditions for mosquitoes is likely to mean greater challenges in controlling those diseases there. But there has been success in eradicating malaria in many temperate regions, but in almost no tropical regions. Malaria may exist in colder climates – when it isn’t cold, i.e. the summer.

The point is that it is much easier to eradicate malaria when there is a season in which mosquitoes cannot live. This gives controlling regimens a free period of time to plan when the mosquitoes can’t come back at you.

So while climate is not the sole factor in diseases like this, a broadening of regions with year-round livable conditions for mosquitoes is likely to mean greater challenges in controlling those diseases there.

]]> By: Jon Frum http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5160&cpage=1#comment-13590 Jon Frum Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:39:50 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5160#comment-13590 Just another example of how rare clear thinking really is. In fact, college faculties are full of such people, who know how to "do" school, but can't think their way out of a paper bag. You can lead a student to a logic class, but you can't make them think. Just another example of how rare clear thinking really is. In fact, college faculties are full of such people, who know how to “do” school, but can’t think their way out of a paper bag. You can lead a student to a logic class, but you can’t make them think.

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