Top UPSC Coaching

07 Jun 2022 Artificial Light: Malaria

Posted at 15:07h in Daily current-affairs by khyati khare 0 Comments

0 Likes

A recent study has shown that artificial light can be used as a weapon to fight malaria.

Light plays an important role in the regulation of biological clocks, such as timing of breeding among birds, hunting by lions and sleeping patterns of humans.
Due to Earth’s rotation the time of day and night has been relatively constant, with such regular day-night cycles that life has evolved on the planet. The Hindu Analysis
The melatonin hormone is a gene that is responsible for regulating the sleep and wake cycles.
It is found in plants as well as in animals.
Rapid changes in natural sleep cycles have been observed due to the increased use of artificial light.
Currently about 80% of the world’s population is living under artificially illuminated skies.

Artificial light can change mosquito biology.
The malaria-carrying mosquito species “Anopheles” is active at night.
By using artificial light, mosquitoes can be confused at night by producing the same amount of light as day.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) reduces the rate of bites by the mosquito “Anopheles” for hours.
Therefore it reduces the rate of bites and transmission of malaria.

The first challenge is, it is still not clear how artificial light can be used to reduce the risk of malaria infection.
The effects of artificial light can be demonstrated in a controlled laboratory medium, but using it as an effective carrier control strategy has yielded completely different results.
In addition, LED lighting can have negative effects on human health, such as disrupting sleep.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne blood disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. It is mainly found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, South America and Asia.
This parasite is transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
After entering the human body, the parasites initially multiply within the liver cells, then destroy the red blood cells (RBCs), resulting in the loss of RBCs. The Hindu Analysis
There are 5 parasitic species that cause malaria infection in humans, of which 2 species – Plasmodium Falciparum and Plasmodium Vivax, are at the highest risk of malaria infection.
Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like symptoms, including chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness.
Both prevention and treatment of this disease is possible.