Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-04
BEGIN ANTIMALARIA CRUSADE
Extensive Campaign Undertaken to
Extermnate Mosauto

/ Washington, May +.-The public
health service has just begun the most
extensive anti malaria campaign eve,
| undertaken in the United States with
a view TO protection of the health OF
/ the soldiers in the southern canton
/ ments. Congress has authorized this
( crusade and provided the funds and il
/ is expected that $500. 900 will have
| been spent by Uncle sam in this work
| by July l. 1919 This is exclusive of
/ tho governments part in the co-opera-
! tive health work now being carried on
in the vicinity of these contonments
! by the public health service. the Amer
lean Red cross and the local health
authorities
Because malaria is conveyed only by
the bite OF a certain mosquito which
flies only a short distance from its
breeding place, the era dicaton of the
mosquito will be undertaken in zones
TWO miles wide around each camp
likely TO have malaria. Breeding and
hiding places viii be ditChed. drained,
and cleared. undrainable still water in
which the mosquitoes breed Will be
oiled and minnows will be installed to
cat t!.c i1I55ti uiitO ia ,ae oil the top VI
the water. Even dynamite Will tee re-
sorted to in this nation wide cam
paign, 10 eliminate dangerous breeding
places and the work supplemented ny
screening and by Use OF quinine for
preventive and curative purposes.
cooperation OF the state and local
authorities and Of the people in zach
place is expected. Posters will he put
up in the post offices. railroad sta
tons and other places in the south.
Previous operations OF the federal
health service against the mosquitoes
have been enthusiastically received by
the people in each place affected. be-
cause Of the results in the reduction
of malaria and eradication OF the NOS
Qutoes. For years the public health
service has studied the most practic-
able means for preventing malaria and
demonstrations have been conducted
in many places in the south.
In the building of the Panama canal
one Of the greatest difficulties en-
countered was the presence of sWarms
OF mosquitoes. which cOnveyedsyellow
fever and malaria to the workmen.
The engineer largely responsible for
the success ir the campaign against
yellow fever mosquitoes in the canal
zone will supervise this anti malaria
campaign and associated with him will
he an officer of the public health serv-
ice widely recognized as one of the
foremost authorities in the United
States on mosquito borne disease.
Under them will be experienced Off
| GERS Of that service and sanitary engi-
neers. along with a large force OF
laborers and large equipment.
Malaria is one of the most serious
diseases in certain sections of the
country. During certain seasons more
than ninety per cent Of all calls made
by physicians in many districts in the
United States are for malaria. 1t is
one Of the greatest health problems
now, not only SO far as the soldiers are
! concerned but also because Of the
! necessity to produce a maximum OF
| food and other supplies related 10 the
war. The efficiency Of the laborer in
the south. according to public health
service officials, has been markedly
| reduced by the disease. These ex-
perts say that the anti-nalaria cam
paign will reduce malaria generally
! and stimulate similar work by local
| health authorities.