"Drugs to Kill Mosquitoes, Not Just Nets"
US researchers say give mosquitoes malaria drugs to clear their infection and break the disease's hold, A new approach to prevent malaria, with long-lasting bed nets to keep the parasite cold.
In a lab at Harvard, a team did stay,
Working hard to find a new way,
To stop malaria's deadly sway,
And save lives every single day.
Working hard to find a new way,
To stop malaria's deadly sway,
And save lives every single day.
They searched for a cure, a magic spell,
To rid mosquitoes of the parasite's hell,
A year-long death toll, nearly 600,000 strong,
Mainly children, and a sorrowful song.
To rid mosquitoes of the parasite's hell,
A year-long death toll, nearly 600,000 strong,
Mainly children, and a sorrowful song.
Their approach was new, a different view,
Not just killing mosquitoes, but the parasite too,
They analyzed DNA, and narrowed it down,
To 22 drugs, and then they wore their crown.
Not just killing mosquitoes, but the parasite too,
They analyzed DNA, and narrowed it down,
To 22 drugs, and then they wore their crown.
Two drugs stood out, effective and true,
Killing 100% of the parasites, that's what they'd do,
They tested on nets, to see if they'd last,
A year-long protection, and a chance to pass.
Killing 100% of the parasites, that's what they'd do,
They tested on nets, to see if they'd last,
A year-long protection, and a chance to pass.
The researchers said, "This is a new way,
To target mosquitoes, and end the malaria day,
The parasite won't resist, it's less in each bug,
So this approach is bright, and a chance to hug."
To target mosquitoes, and end the malaria day,
The parasite won't resist, it's less in each bug,
So this approach is bright, and a chance to hug."
The plan is to coat nets with these two drugs so fine,
A cheap and long-lasting solution, to make malaria decline,
Insecticide too, will be added with care,
So if one approach fails, the other will be there.
A cheap and long-lasting solution, to make malaria decline,
Insecticide too, will be added with care,
So if one approach fails, the other will be there.
The next step is Ethiopia, where they'll put it to the test,
Six years of studies, to see if it's the best,
But the vision is clear, to save lives each night,
With bed nets treated, and a chance to take flight.
Six years of studies, to see if it's the best,
But the vision is clear, to save lives each night,
With bed nets treated, and a chance to take flight.