Issued by: Department of Health
MALARIA: CURRENT SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
There has been a sharp increase in the number of malaria cases, over the last two months. This increase is attributed to the high rainfall in the malaria areas during the previous three months. To date 4118 cases have been notified for 1996 which is already approximately 50% of the country total number of malaria cases for 1995. The areas reporting a high number of malaria cases are the malaria areas in namely, Northern Province, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu- Natal.
Although very rare, there is a possibility that infected malaria vector mosquitoes can be transported from malaria areas to non-malaria areas in motor cars, truck or trains. Since there is no direct transmission of malaria between human beings, malaria will only be contracted if a person is bitten by the infested mosquito. The species of mosquitoes found in non-malaria areas cannot transmit malaria. Therefore there is no risk of an outbreak of malaria in non-malaria areas.
In addition to the routine malaria control activities, the provincial departments of health have introduced further actions to address the malaria outbreak. These actions include:
After the holiday season there is always a possibility of malaria infection in visitors returning from malaria areas. Medical practitioners should be on the alert for malaria infections in their patients. People with any flu-like symptons (fever, headache, coughing, sweating, tiredness, etc.) should seek medical attention immediately and inform their doctors of their movements during the past three months, since malaria infection cannot be excluded. Since no prophylactic drug is 100% effective, people may still contract malaria although prophylactic medicines have been taken. Also, the incubation period may be prolonged if the course of prophylactic medicines had not been completed.
Since the risk of contracting malaria in the malaria areas is at present very high visitors should protect themselves against mosquito bites and take antimalaria drugs in the high risk areas.
Measures to prevent mosquito bites include remaining indoors between dusk and dawn, wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothing, long trousers and socks when necessary to go out and applying an insect repellent to exposed skin; sealing doors and windows with screens, if not available, windows and doors should be closed at night; using a mosquito bednet, preferably one impregnated with an insecticide registered for this purpose, with the edges tucked in under the mattress; spraying the house inside with an aerosol insecticide at dusk, especially the bedrooms, after closing the windows; burning mosquito coils or mats in bedrooms at night.
In the high risk areas chloroquine (trade names: Anoclor, Daramal, Nivaquine or Plasmoquine) should be taken together with proguanil (trade name: Paludrine) which are available at pharmacies without a prescription. Chloroquine should be taken every seven days starting one week before entering the area, weekly while in the area and weekly for four weeks after leaving the area. Proguanil must be taken daily starting one day before entering the area, daily while in the area and daily four weeks after leaving the area.
An alternative is mefloquine (trade name: Lariam) which requires a doctor's prescription. Mefloquine should be taken every seven days starting one week before entering the area, weekly while in the area and weekly for four weeks after leaving the area.
Enquiries: Lulu Sebake Telephone: (012) 312-0175 8 March 1996 Map of the risk areas is available, contact Lulu Sebake