Malaria warning this summer
The rainy summer season in the northern parts of South Africa is associated with an increase in the numbers of malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito and a considerably enhanced risk of contracting the illness within the endemic areas of southern Africa
AS the northern parts of South Africa head into the rainy summer season, visitors to areas where malaria is endemic are warned to pay the necessary attention to protecting themselves from the dangerous mosquito-borne illness.
‘Unfortunately, we have not seen the last of malaria in South Africa, which by all indications is making something of a comeback, and over the last year there have been a number of cases reported from areas where it was previously thought to have been eliminated.
‘This includes the Waterberg District in the north-east of Limpopo province,’ says Dr Peter Vincent of Netcare Travel Clinics and Medicross Tokai.
The rainy summer season in the northern parts of South Africa is associated with an increase in the numbers of malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito and a considerably enhanced risk of contracting the illness within the endemic areas of southern Africa.
The risk is highest between September through to the following May, which is considered to be ‘malaria season’ in South Africa.
Serious
Dr Vincent warned that malaria infection can result in serious complications, particularly if it is not identified and treated at an early stage.
Travellers are advised to do their homework before visiting areas where malaria may be present.
This is particularly important as the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) recently proposed expanding the malaria risk areas within South Africa.
Malaria poses a risk in the northern parts of Limpopo, eastern Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal as well as in parts of neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The NICD has proposed a change in its Malaria Risk Map for South Africa, for the first time since 2013.
The map, published in the NICD’s Communicable Diseases Communiqué of September 2018, and yet to be approved by the Department of Health at the time of writing, proposes extending the low-risk malaria areas to as far west as Lephalale in Limpopo and medium-risk areas to beyond Musina in the west and Hoedspruit in the north west.
Flu-like symptoms
Should any travellers to a malaria area develop flu-like symptoms for up to six months following their trip, they should have an urgent blood test for malaria.
‘This is extremely important, as malaria is commonly misdiagnosed as flu and this can have serious, sometimes even fatal, consequences for the individual involved,’ says Dr Vincent.
‘When visiting one of the higher risk areas, we recommend you adopt a comprehensive prevention strategy that not only includes the use of a prophylaxis medication that is prescribed by your doctor or travel clinic, but to also adopt the necessary measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitos,’ said Dr Vincent.
Evening to morning feeder
Although it may be active throughout the day on overcast days, the malaria-carrying mosquito is usually a dusk-to-dawn feeder and Dr Vincent advised people to change into long sleeved shirts and blouses, long trousers and socks as evening approaches.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
