10,000 dead malaria mosquitoes in Amsterdam

On Sunday 25 April, World Malaria Day, Arjan Erkel, director of Malaria No More! Netherlands, unveiled an advertising column filled with 10,000 malaria mosquitoes on Koningsplein in Amsterdam. The mosquitoes, none of which were infected with the malaria parasite, unfortunately fell victim to the print ink on the poster and died before the glass display was unveiled. Arjan Erkel had a container of 2,000 living malaria mosquitoes on him in which you could clearly see how the female mosquitoes flew towards the netted side of the container every time they saw a hand. The male mosquitoes weren't interested in the human hand from which they could draw blood had they wanted to.

Not everyone knows that the disease is only transmitted by female mosquitoes infected with the malaria parasite. Nothing happens if the mosquito isn't carrying the disease. That's why it's important to prevent people being bitten by female malaria mosquitoes. Sleeping under a mosquito net not only prevents a non-infected mosquito sucking up parasites from an infected person and becoming a carrier, it also prevents infected female mosquitoes transmitting the deadly disease with its next bite.

The charity ran this campaign to raise awareness for malaria, a disease that takes a child's life every 30 seconds. And this, although no more than €10 are needed to donate a mosquito net under which three children can sleep safely and soundly for five years. Malaria No More! makes sure the mosquito net is purchased and delivered to the people who need it. The local population are also educated on how malaria develops, how the disease can be prevented and what needs to be done should someone start showing symptoms.

The public's reactions to the campaign were varied. Some people couldn't understand how the charity could risk exposing Amsterdam to malaria. They didn't know that the display contained mosquitoes that were not infected. Other reactions varied from happy to find out people could make a one-time donation to not being able to understand why more wasn't being done considering the deadly scale of the disease, to good that Malaria No More! was taking advantage of World Malaria Day to raise awareness. Tourists visiting from abroad can also donate a life-saving mosquito net via the website.