Chapter 102

Chapter 102: "Big Killer"

Malaria posed a significant challenge to the development of the East African colonies. This parasitic disease, caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bite of Anopheles mosquitoes, thrived in the region due to its warm temperatures, making it ideal for mosquito survival. During this era, people were unaware that mosquitoes were the carriers of malaria, which made controlling the disease particularly challenging.

In the early stages of colonization, despite the East African government's mandatory orders to improve sanitation and living conditions, malaria continued to claim many lives. The vast, densely vegetated landscape provided a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes, especially during the hot and humid rainy season.

However, the immigrants who survived the journey to East Africa were, in a way, naturally selected for their resilience. Similar to how black slaves chosen for the transatlantic journey were the hardiest individuals, the Far East immigrants who reached East Africa had endured significant hardships and were more robust.

To further reduce the spread of malaria and other tropical diseases, a massive mosquito eradication campaign was initiated under Ernst's direction from the early days of the colony's development. This campaign included actions like clearing vegetation, filling puddles, and promoting biological control by introducing fish and frogs to reduce mosquito larvae populations.

As the colony developed and the quality of life improved, sanitation conditions also advanced significantly. Hygiene was enforced, clean water sources were managed, and public toilets were built in each village to maintain cleanliness.

The colony also prohibited hunting for wild animals that could spread diseases. Primates and other animals were killed, burned, and buried to prevent any possibility of consumption, as they had been during periods of food scarcity in the colony's early days.

Ernst believed that some diseases had emerged due to the consumption of certain animals in Africa, such as AIDS. While this assertion may not have been scientifically accurate, the colony sought to prevent such practices among its immigrants.

The living conditions in East Africa continued to improve as immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Paraguay arrived. They were settled in cities and villages developed by Chinese immigrants to dilute ethnic groups and promote population integration.

Despite the colony's improved living conditions, the prevalence of tropical diseases, including malaria, remained a concern. The East African government continued to enforce strict sanitation measures and mosquito control campaigns.

It is important to note that the knowledge of mosquitoes as disease carriers had not yet reached this era, except among those in East Africa, who believed in Ernst's teachings.

As the colony expanded and more immigrants arrived, the strict hygiene measures became the norm. Newcomers followed these rules, further improving living conditions and reducing the spread of diseases.

With the arrival of German immigrants, the Hexingen Consortium brought good news. Funded by Ernst and in collaboration with German universities, researchers had extracted pyrethrins. The plan was to mass-produce mosquito coils, which were known as the "big killer" of mosquitoes in tropical regions.

This development not only promised to enhance living conditions in the East African colonies but also created a potential source of wealth for the Hexingen Consortium. Additionally, since East Africa was a region where pyrethrum was produced, it created a closed industrial loop that would benefit the colony's economy.

This chapter highlights the ongoing efforts to combat malaria and improve living conditions in the East African colonies, demonstrating the importance of innovation and adaptation in the face of tropical diseases.