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Larvacide, Not Zika Causing Microcephaly

Cheerful Charlie

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http://www.techtimes.com/articles/1...-of-brazils-microcephaly-outbreak-doctors.htm

It looks like a larvacide introduced into Brazilian water towers to control misquitos is the casue of microcephaly. From a Japanese subsidary of Monsanto.

[h=1]Larvicide Manufactured By Sumitomo, Not Zika Virus, True Cause Of Brazil's Microcephaly Outbreak: Doctors[/h]
According to the Physicians in Crop-Sprayed Towns (PCST), a chemical larvicide that produces malformations in mosquitoes was injected into Brazil's water supplies in 2014 in order to stop the development of mosquito larvae in drinking water tanks. The chemical, which is known as Pyriproxyfen, was used in a massive government-run program tasked to control the mosquito population in the country. Pyriproxyfen is a larvicide manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical, a company associated [PDF] with Monsanto. However, PCST has referred to Sumitomo as a subsidiary of Monsanto.
....

The group of Argentine doctors points out that during past Zika epidemics, there have not been any cases of microcephaly linked with the virus. In fact, about 75 percent of the population in countries where Zika broke out had been infected by the mosquito-borne virus.
In countries such as Colombia where there are plenty of Zika cases, there are no records of microcephaly linked to Zika, the group said.
....
"Neither Monsanto nor our products have any connection to the Zika virus or microcephaly. Monsanto does not manufacture or sell Pyriproxyfen. And, Monsanto does not own Sumitomo Chemical Company. It is, however, a business partner like others in the area of crop protection," the representative said.
 
And yet, I've heard that the highest incidence of microcephaly are in towns where this mosquito control is NOT USED AT ALL.
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/1...-of-brazils-microcephaly-outbreak-doctors.htm

It looks like a larvacide introduced into Brazilian water towers to control misquitos is the casue of microcephaly. From a Japanese subsidary of Monsanto.

[h=1]Larvicide Manufactured By Sumitomo, Not Zika Virus, True Cause Of Brazil's Microcephaly Outbreak: Doctors[/h]
According to the Physicians in Crop-Sprayed Towns (PCST), a chemical larvicide that produces malformations in mosquitoes was injected into Brazil's water supplies in 2014 in order to stop the development of mosquito larvae in drinking water tanks. The chemical, which is known as Pyriproxyfen, was used in a massive government-run program tasked to control the mosquito population in the country. Pyriproxyfen is a larvicide manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical, a company associated [PDF] with Monsanto. However, PCST has referred to Sumitomo as a subsidiary of Monsanto.
....

The group of Argentine doctors points out that during past Zika epidemics, there have not been any cases of microcephaly linked with the virus. In fact, about 75 percent of the population in countries where Zika broke out had been infected by the mosquito-borne virus.
In countries such as Colombia where there are plenty of Zika cases, there are no records of microcephaly linked to Zika, the group said.
....
"Neither Monsanto nor our products have any connection to the Zika virus or microcephaly. Monsanto does not manufacture or sell Pyriproxyfen. And, Monsanto does not own Sumitomo Chemical Company. It is, however, a business partner like others in the area of crop protection," the representative said.
 
I read on Wikipedia that there was a Zika outbreak on an isolated island (redundant?), Yap Island, and there wasn't really any problem at all. However, the total number of cases ranged in the several dozen, so it may not be statistically of value.
 
I read on Wikipedia that there was a Zika outbreak on an isolated island (redundant?), Yap Island, and there wasn't really any problem at all. However, the total number of cases ranged in the several dozen, so it may not be statistically of value.

Probably not - especially considering the much larger outbreak in Oceania (linked on the page) did point to neurological diseases which were linked to Zika. Right now we don't know enough about the mechanism and it could be that the ability to cause microcephaly is only there during a short window during a pregnancy.

Moreover the All Things Considered link, who overall have had some very good coverage on the latest outbreak, indicates that the suspected anti-larval agent hasn't been used in the region where the highest number of microcephaly cases have been reported.
 
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