There is vocal group of people who support the use of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), a pesticide which is very effective at killing malaria. But there is an argument that DDT is actually an expensive way of tackling the issue because you have to keep employing people to spray the stuff, and DDT of course faces significant environmental concerns about its effects on fish and birds. The science to vaccinate Africa against malaria may be just six years away. This is excellent. In the meantime, as the Adam Smith Institute's Madsen Pirie has said, "bed nets represent a simple and effective way to save lives now".