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bossonhigs t1_ivhhped wrote

Reply to comment by manitobot in English company Oxitec has released a simple, easy to distribute commercial product they say cuts Dengue Fever spreading mosquito populations by 96%. By just adding water, genetically modified mosquito eggs mature into males whose sperm cannot result in viable female larvae. by lughnasadh

That's very philanthropic. I can't say I don't have mixed feeling about humanity so I admit that sometimes everyone is brother and sister to me, but other times, they are just ....

But... isn't for example malaria curable by prescription drugs? What's wrong with sending medications? No profit?

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manitobot t1_ivhj6lo wrote

I don't really see it as philanthropic but just part of society building. We establish medical care and labor laws and etc to prevent easily preventable deaths, and so the same sort works when it comes to treating tropical diseases. In this instance, its those outside a certain nation (most of the developed world has already eradicated malaria) which I feel is probably a net positive for all of us. It most likely is going to enhance things like productivity and output in nations that still deal with these diseases, and I could imagine plenty of scenarios where it makes sense to help fight diseases, looking at things beyond an ethical sense.

Malaria at the moment can be treated with prescription drugs, but the emphasis right now is on eradication is on ending transmission. I think it would be more costly to send medicines than things like bed nets and DDT, and I don't think it would be as effective. The goal is to wipe out the habitats that house malaria.

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bossonhigs t1_ivhmsz9 wrote

As I write this, I've been repeatedly bit by lonely mosquito.

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