According to the Department of Health, South Africa has made significant strides in reducing malaria morbidity and mortality and has adopted an elimination programme to reduce local transmission of malaria to zero cases by the year 2018.

Between 2000 and 2015, new malaria cases decreased by 37% across the world, and by 42% in Africa. During this same period, deaths caused by malaria fell by 60% globally. The good news is that malaria death rates in Africa dropped by two-thirds (66%). These achievements were due to improved prevention and treatment policies that ensured effective insecticides and combination anti-malaria treatment. It is of the greatest importance that “efforts are sustained and expanded through increased national political will, technical and financial investment for malaria elimination, and collaboration with neighbouring malaria endemic countries to reduce the risk of imported malaria into South Africa” (SA Department of Health).

The Department of Health urges all South Africans and travellers to take measures to protect themselves against malaria. Important preventative measures include allowing malaria control officials to spray homes during the malaria season in malaria endemic provinces and taking prophylaxis and using repellents when travelling to malaria-affected areas.

When a person shows symptoms of possible malaria infection, especially (but not only) after a visit to a malaria area, he or she should seek immediate medical attention. The common symptoms of malaria include fever, shivering, headache, body pains and weakness.

Risk areas

In South Africa, malaria is mainly transmitted along the border areas. Malaria transmission in South Africa is seasonal, with malaria cases starting to rise in October, peaking in January and February, and waning towards May. People are at high risk for malaria in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and in Limpopo (including the Kruger Park and private game reserves in these provinces). In KwaZulu Natal malaria is endemic on the Maputaland coast. Intermediate risk areas are Kosi Bay, Sodwana Bay, Mkuze Game Reserve and St Lucia Lake.

Low risk areas are the North West Province and the Northern Cape along the Molopo and Orange Rivers, including the Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

In high and intermediate areas, people are advised to take anti-malaria medication and protect themselves from mosquito bites. A GP or pharmacist should be consulted to find out exactly which medication should be taken for which area. In the low risk areas, it is not necessary to take anti-malaria drugs, but precautionary measures to prevent mosquito bites should be taken.

Into the future

In its quest for a malaria-free world, the WHO has developed the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030, which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015. This strategy provides a technical framework for all endemic countries as they work towards malaria control and elimination. The goals are considered as being ambitious but achievable. They including the following:

    • Reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90%
    • Reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90%
    • Eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries
    • Preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free.

 

Sources
World malaria report. 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/world_malaria_report/en/
www.doh.gov.za
www.sa-venues.com

 

(Revised by M van Deventer)