Whether the scientific adventures will eventually pay off is uncertain, but for now there's no question that a price is being paid. Malaria, an ancient disease, a controllable disease, is spreading. Coconuts are used to incubate a bacteria which successfully controls the larva of the malaria-bearing mosquito. The Facts about Malaria Malaria, one of the most debilitating diseases in the developing world, is making a comeback. Epidemics are increasing, despite a decade of control programs in various parts of the world.
Malaria is spread by the bite of a mosquito.
It causes fever, chills, nausea, and muscle pain and can lead to severe complications and death. Every minute, two children die from the effects of malaria somewhere in the tropics. Almost half of the world's population is at risk of catching malaria. About 300 to 500 million people suffer from the disease each year and more than one million die of it. Mosquitoes are becoming more resistant to chemical insecticides, such as DDT, that have been used for decades to control malaria.