Malaria case numbers on the increase

MBOMBELA - Any flu-like symptoms should not be ignored, but must immediately be attended to, as these might be cases of malaria.

This is the warning from the Mpumalanga Department of Health after a sudden flair-up of these cases was reported over the past few weeks. The department’s statement follows shortly after the sudden death of wellknown Malalane resident, Marietjie van Coller. Lowvelder earlier reported that Van Coller had not been feeling well before her sudden death on October 14.

Barely 12 hours after she was rushed to Mediclinic Nelspruit by her husband, Hendrik, she died.

According to a doctor in the Onderberg, there was a sudden increase in the number of malaria cases reported in the Nkomazi area. “Most people think they are just feeling sick due the change of seasons, but it might well be that the underlying cause could be malaria.

“As strange as it might sound, we usually advise people, especially visitors to the Lowveld, not to take anti-malaria medication. These medicines tend to mask malaria when blood tests are being done.”

Dumisani Malamule, the spokesperson for the Department of Health, confirmed there was a marked increase in the number of malaria cases reported over the past few weeks this year.

“In 2021, 2 477 cases were reported in the province, with 20 deaths. So far this year, we received 1 169 confirmed cases and no deaths were reported.”

Malamule said their malaria prevention teams are still doing an audit on the number of cases for the province’s hospitals. “September was the starting month for malaria season. We expect there will be an increase in malaria cases. This is because we already had rain and the heat.”

He said the department is also investigating which systems were lacking, and how best they can be improved to respond to malaria cases better than before.

“The department has already developed an Epidemic Preparedness and Response Plan, a comprehensive plan to highlight key areas of intervention.

“These interventions will include risk communication and community engagement, capacity-building of clinicians for prompt diagnosis and management, and provision of testing and treatment on-site for high movable and high-risk communities.”