The Division of Well being has warned all travellers and communities to stay vigilant as South Africa information a slight improve in malaria circumstances, significantly in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal. The division famous that outbreaks in neighbouring Southern African Growth Neighborhood (SADC) international locations, together with Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, add to the specter of cross-border transmission.
The division said that this case raises the danger of potential cross-border transmission of this preventable illness, particularly as individuals journey all through the area for non secular and cultural occasions through the Easter holidays.
With an uptick in motion between international locations, the division has emphasised the significance of taking vital precautions when visiting endemic areas.
Malaria prevention measures for travellers
Travellers are urged to take malaria prevention remedy (prophylaxis) as suggested by healthcare suppliers. Doxycycline is accessible freed from cost at public well being services. As well as, they need to apply insect repellent containing no less than 10% DEET, sleep beneath mattress nets, and put on long-sleeved clothes at night time to cut back mosquito bites.
Malaria is especially transmitted by bites from contaminated feminine Anopheles mosquitoes. Signs sometimes embrace fever, chills, complications, muscle ache, nausea, vomiting, and a lack of urge for food. The division suggested,
“Search rapid medical consideration if any of the signs seem and all the time point out latest journey historical past.”
The division additionally emphasised, “Early analysis and therapy are important to saving lives and stopping additional transmission of the illness.”
Healthcare Sector on Excessive Alert
The Division of Well being has instructed healthcare suppliers throughout endemic and non-endemic provinces to take care of heightened consciousness. They’ve been reminded to display screen sufferers presenting with flu-like signs for malaria and ask about any latest journey to high-risk areas.
“They have been additionally reminded to all the time inquire about journey historical past, significantly from high-risk areas and conduct immediate malaria testing and repeat the assessments if signs persist regardless of adverse outcomes,” the division added.
How will you defend your self if travelling to a malaria-risk space this Easter?
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