NICD warns of approaching malaria season

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has issued an alert the past month, warning residents that we are entering malaria season once more.

The NICD states that the traditional malaria season in southern Africa is from September to May, but cases can occur throughout the year. “The seasonal peak in malaria cases is usually from November to end of April. The annual spraying of houses in the malaria areas will start in October and preparations are in progress. It is not possible to predict the nature of the season, but every confirmed case of malaria is reported and investigated, and trends are closely monitored,” said the NICD.

Compared with 2018, the NICD said that by June this year (most recent data available) there was a 39% reduction in South Africa’s total cases for the same period, and in Mpumalanga, an 87% reduction. “Visitors to northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, the lowveld areas of Mpumalanga Province, including the Kruger National Park and areas bordering the park, north-eastern Limpopo Province, and especially those visiting Mozambique, must take precautions against mosquito bites by using effective insect repellent applied to exposed skin areas after sunset, and use mosquito coils, fans and air-conditioning, and even mosquito nets, in high-risk areas. Visitors should consider taking prophylactic drugs if visiting high-risk areas,” said the NICD.

The NICD also highlighted the importance of being aware of the symptoms of malaria, which are non-specific and overlap with those of influenza (although the influenza season is drawing to a close). “Anybody who has a ‘flu-like’ illness of fever with a headache, cold shivers, hot sweats, muscle pains, and even vomiting and diarrhoea, who has travelled or lives in a malaria area, must seek very urgent care. They must insist on a malaria blood test and obtain results promptly. If negative, the test should be repeated. “If positive, treatment must be started urgently,” said the NICD. They added that malaria was eminently treatable if diagnosed and treated in the first 48 hours after symptoms developed. “If treatment is delayed, the infection will progress rapidly and becomes difficult to treat. Complications are common and there is a high risk of death from malaria in this situation,” said the NICD.

News in brief - Date: 14 October 2019

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