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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Gates Lets Mosquitoes Fly at Audience

Stunt underscores malaria threat shouldn't be for 'only poor people'

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(Newser) – Bill Gates had the audience buzzing yesterday as he released a jar of mosquitoes at the TED2009 conference in California during a presentation on eradicating malaria, reports MSNBC. The bugs were not carrying the disease. "Not only poor people should experience this," Gates explained, according to a witness who Twittered the news. Gates' foundation is contributing $170 million to develop a vaccine to fight the disease that infects some 500 million people a year, and kills 100 million.

A 4-year-old girl receives medical treatment for severe malaria as her mother keeps watch at a clinic in Goma, eastern Congo.
A 4-year-old girl receives medical treatment for severe malaria as her mother keeps watch at a clinic in Goma, eastern Congo.   (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
The body of a young malaria victim is buried in a grove in the Congo.
The body of a young malaria victim is buried in a grove in the Congo.   (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Bill Gates participates in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.
Bill Gates participates in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Alessandro Della Bella)
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4 comments
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Caps
Feb 5, 09 10:47 AM CST
Bill Gates is a mighty fine person. He is always helping the under privilige people. Reply
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Forderon
Feb 5, 09 11:07 AM CST
It infects 500M and kills 100M??!!! Holy crap. I follow African news quite a bit and was still shocked at the number. This issue should be getting way more attention and kudos to Bill Gates for his work. On another note, can you image the world's population if 100M didn't die every year? Overpopulation seems to the biggest issue no one is talking about. We need to get Africans to stop having kids. Reply
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riffran
Feb 6, 09 2:07 AM CST
malaria, is some nasty sh**......I was unable to give blood (AB NEG) for 10 years just because I was vaccinated in the military for it......Go Bill go Reply
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SPH
Feb 8, 09 2:56 PM CST
There is no vaccine for malaria...That's why it is such a problem..riffran is either mistaken or lying... Reply
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