U.S. malaria eradication campaigns focused on which strategies?

• A. Draining breeding sites and using insecticides such as DDT
• B. Vaccination campaigns
• C. Introducing natural predators
• D. Quarantine only

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that eradicating malaria relied on cutting the mosquito population and interrupting transmission through habitat management and chemical control. Malaria is spread by Anopheles mosquitoes, so removing standing water and other larval habitats reduces the breeding sites and lowers the number of mosquitoes that can become vectors. Spraying insecticides such as DDT targets adult mosquitoes, further reducing transmission by decreasing bites. Vaccines were not available or used as a primary tool in these campaigns, and introducing natural predators or relying on quarantine alone don’t provide the broad, rapid impact needed to stop transmission. Together, draining breeding sites and using DDT were the practical, impactful strategies used.