Treating baby-wearing materials with an insecticide, as used on soldiers’ uniforms, significantly reduced the incidence of malaria, a new study has found. The study, which lasted 6 months and was carried out in areas of Uganda where malaria is endemic, included 400 mothers and their newborns between the ages of 6 and 18 months. Half of the group used cotton rolls treated with permethrin from Sawyer Products, while the other half received rolls treated with plain water to serve as the control group. The material was re-treated every 4 weeks, and all mothers and their newborns participating in the study received insecticide-treated sleeping nets. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, showed that wraps treated with permethrin reduced the incidence of malaria in infants by 66%. The researchers pointed out that the study needs follow-up research. “Given the expected duration and frequency of use, there is a need for extensive follow-up of children, particularly regarding the effects of permethrin exposure on neurodevelopment,” they added. The researchers pointed out that “infection with malaria in its severe or uncomplicated forms can cause long-term cognitive impairment,” stressing that this requires “a careful balance between the potential risks and benefits” of the new method tested by the study. What is malaria? Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. People with malaria usually feel extremely ill, with a high temperature and chills accompanied by shivering, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although the disease is uncommon in temperate climates, malaria is still common in tropical and subtropical countries. Almost 290 million people are infected with it every year, and more than 400,000 people die. Global health programs distribute preventive medications and insecticide-treated bed nets to protect people from mosquito bites and limit the spread of malaria infection. The World Health Organization has recommended that children living in countries with high malaria infection rates be vaccinated with the malaria vaccine. It is worth noting that protective clothing, mosquito nets and insecticides can protect people while they travel, and preventive medication can also be taken before a trip to a high-risk area and during and after the trip, noting that many malaria parasites have developed resistance to drugs commonly used to treat this disease.