Zika Virus

Louis R wrote:To put it mildly.

If it was just a matter of Zika, it would be a no-brainer: stop spraying, start slapping. Unfortunately, the real reasons for controlling Aedes Aegyptii are Yellow Fever, Dengue and Chikungangua.

And, given how long the control programs have been running, there would have had to be a very recent change in pesticide use to provide any support at all for that hypothesis.

It turns out this particular pesticide has only been in use for 18 months, although a clear link to microcephaly hasn't been established. Time will tell I guess.

You can find more information here: http://www.sciencealert.com/argentinian-report-says-monsanto-linked-pesticide-is-to-blame-for-microcephaly-outbreak-not-zika

Joat42 wrote:

Louis R wrote:To put it mildly.

If it was just a matter of Zika, it would be a no-brainer: stop spraying, start slapping. Unfortunately, the real reasons for controlling Aedes Aegyptii are Yellow Fever, Dengue and Chikungangua.

And, given how long the control programs have been running, there would have had to be a very recent change in pesticide use to provide any support at all for that hypothesis.

It turns out this particular pesticide has only been in use for 18 months, although a clear link to microcephaly hasn't been established. Time will tell I guess.

You can find more information here: http://www.sciencealert.com/argentinian-report-says-monsanto-linked-pesticide-is-to-blame-for-microcephaly-outbreak-not-zika

Debunked by Scopes.

http://www.snopes.com/zika-microcephaly ... pesticide/

Key points -

1. There is no Argentinian study only a unproven hypothesis by an Argentinian environmental group.

2. Even though Brazil recently started to use it. It is NOT a new product. It has been widely used elsewhere (including the USA) and has been on the market for over a decade.

3. Not all of the places where they have microcephaly used the pesticide.

trust Snopes...

biochem wrote:

Joat42 wrote:It turns out this particular pesticide has only been in use for 18 months, although a clear link to microcephaly hasn't been established. Time will tell I guess.

You can find more information here: http://www.sciencealert.com/argentinian-report-says-monsanto-linked-pesticide-is-to-blame-for-microcephaly-outbreak-not-zika

Debunked by Scopes.

http://www.snopes.com/zika-microcephaly ... pesticide/

Key points -

1. There is no Argentinian study only a unproven hypothesis by an Argentinian environmental group.

2. Even though Brazil recently started to use it. It is NOT a new product. It has been widely used elsewhere (including the USA) and has been on the market for over a decade.

3. Not all of the places where they have microcephaly used the pesticide.

biochem wrote:Debunked by Scopes.

http://www.snopes.com/zika-microcephaly ... pesticide/

Key points -

1. There is no Argentinian study only a unproven hypothesis by an Argentinian environmental group.

2. Even though Brazil recently started to use it. It is NOT a new product. It has been widely used elsewhere (including the USA) and has been on the market for over a decade.

3. Not all of the places where they have microcephaly used the pesticide.

Ok, theory busted.

In fairness to the speculators, it's actually only point 3 that makes it untenable. Otherwise you would need to look at the possibility of interaction between the pesticide, or a metabolic product, and the virus. If Brazil's use marks the first time the two have met in the same body all bets are off. However, in that case there would be a very clear geographic link between the pesticide and microcephaly that could actually have masked the Zika connection; that connection apparently isn't there.

Joat42 wrote:

biochem wrote:Debunked by Scopes.

http://www.snopes.com/zika-microcephaly ... pesticide/

Key points -

1. There is no Argentinian study only a unproven hypothesis by an Argentinian environmental group.

2. Even though Brazil recently started to use it. It is NOT a new product. It has been widely used elsewhere (including the USA) and has been on the market for over a decade.

3. Not all of the places where they have microcephaly used the pesticide.

Ok, theory busted.