Issued by: The Department of Health
December 4 1997
Pretoria - Despite 20111 cases of malaria and 61 deaths recorded this year, a sound infrastructure for malaria control was in place, Dr Rajendra Maharaj, Deputy Director, Communicable Disease Control in the National Department of Health assured Christmas holiday makers.
But, he advised, visitors to high risk areas like the Kruger National Park, the northern and eastern parts of the country adjourning Mozambique, and the tourist destinations in KwaZulu-Natal like Kosi Bay, Sodwana Bay, Mkhuze Game Reserve and St Lucia Lake, should take precautionary measures to prevent contracting malaria. They should consult medical practitioners and pharmacies and should take antimalarial drugs.
"In most countries in Africa, the health facilities and health care system is already burdened and is struggling to cope. If there is an increase in the malaria areas, the number of cases and subsequently the number of deaths will also increase," he said.
Antimalarial drugs should be used by anyone visiting high risk areas whether they be men or pregnant women and children.
The symptoms of malaria are very similar to flu. Anyone suffering from a headache, fever, muscular and joint pains, sweating, shivering attacks, nausea, diarrhoea and fatigue should consult a doctor immediately. If malaria is not effectively treated, it could lead to cerebral malaria and eventually death.
The risk of malaria if precautions are taken is very low, far lower than those associated with motor vehicle travel.
In addition to taking prophylaxis, holiday makers visiting high risk area should take the following measures between dusk and dawn: where possible, avoid being outdoors at this time; wear long sleeves, trousers and socks if outdoors; apply an insect repellent to exposed skin; keep doors and windows closed, unless they are screened; use insecticidal sprays, especially in sleeping areas; use mosquito coils and mosquito mats in sleeping area and sleep under mosquito proof bed nets preferably impregnated with an insecticide registered for this use.