“Pacific Enemy Number Two Malaria” is a 1944 training film that outlines the way the United States military fought malaria in the islands of the South Pacific during World War II. “Pacific enemy number one — the Jap — has been blasted out,” the narrator says at mark 00:50 as we watch peaceful scenes from a Pacific island. Yet another threat remains — the mosquito (mark 01:04), “whose tiny bite can mean malaria.” Illustrative footage is shown as scientists take blood samples from natives and examine them under microscopes. Medical officers are shown at mark 02:58 discussing where malaria outbreaks are most prevalent, including the Solomon Islands, and we see scenes of the swampy waters that breed mosquitos that carry malaria and also are trudged through by soldiers. “It’s hard to fight two enemies, Jap and mosquito, at one time,” the narrator says at mark 03:27. By rolling down shirt sleeves, buttoning shirts, and using repellants, the chance of contracting malaria can be reduced. A careless may not be as lucky. A medical officer passes out atabrine pills in a chow line (mark 04:39) and in the field to further reduce the risk. There are scenes from a malaria control headquarters on one island at mark 05:20 where medical personnel further work on controlling the disease that combines medical, engineering, and etymological attacks. Scientists examine mosquito larvae scooped up in water samples, while seabees come in and blast open waterways to drain standing water, dig drainage ditches, cut down underbrush, and oil spray waters that cannot be drained. Troops install netting at mark 06:45 to continue the fight, while others are shown teaching village boys how to spray insecticides in their family homes. As the films nears the end, we learn how in the rainy climates, mosquitoes will breed in such man-made depressions as ruts, abandoned roads, blocked ditches, and fox and shell holes. Bulldozers then must come in and smooth over the depressions (mark 09:10).
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