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How can we prevent tropical disease?

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  Guinea-wormdisease , schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis and trachoma can all be avoided with clean water, hygienic food handling and basic hygiene. TDs distributed by worms, flies, mosquitoes or other hosts are called vector-borne TDs and they can be prevented by controlling the vectors. Even without immunizations, tropical diseases (TDs) are highly avoidable. Guinea-worm disease, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis and trachoma can all be avoided with clean water, hygienic food handling and basic hygiene. Vector-borne TDs, such as those transferred by worms, flies, mosquitoes or other hosts can be avoided by controlling the vectors. Insecticides can be sprayed in large quantities in locations where vectors reproduce or congregate, killing them before they become parasite carriers. Scientists are also looking into genetically modifying the vectors to prevent them from carrying the parasite the genetically modified vectors would then be released into the ...