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Bill Gates Once Released a Swarm of Mosquitoes on a Crowd to Make a Point About Malaria

Updated: Jul 8, 2018

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates released a swarm of mosquitoes on an unsuspecting audience at a TED conference in 2009. "There's no reason only poor people should have the experience," the billionaire said, before adding that the mosquitoes were not infectious.


Gates was making the compelling point that, even if an issue like malaria doesn't directly affect you, you should still care. At that time, he noted, more money had been invested into researching hair loss drugs because, when it comes to baldness, "rich men are afflicted."


The Bill & Malinda Gates Foundation donated mosquito nets together with mosquito repellent spray to save thousands of children’s life and helped end Malaria in Africa. It’s been proven that mosquito nets, especially when treated with repellent, is one of the best way to prevent mosquito bites.

Learn more about the Bill & Malinda Gates Foundation’s Malaria Projects here

Watch the full TED talk here


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