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A health agent prepares an anti-malaria injection.
Four municipalities in Mpumalanga have registered large number of malaria cases. The Department of Health says cases have been reported in the City of Mbombela, Nkomzai, Bushbukridge and Thaba Chweu municipalities.
Over 619 people have been infected and at least five people have died between April and November this year.
The Department of Health has visited Matsulu to raise awareness as the region marks SADC Malaria Day.
“We are now approaching the festive season, we know very well that the community will be travelling to different areas, even areas that are known to have malaria. We are also requesting that when they go, they get prophylaxis treatment for malaria at our local health facilities. They should take that tablet two days before they go to that area and they also need to make sure that they drink that treatment when they are in that particular area even when they come to our area after their visit, they need to make sure that they finish all the package that they were given. That treatment will help them to reduce the chances of getting malaria,” says Director for Communicable Diseases Mandla Zwane.
National Institute for Communicable Diseases’ Jaishree Ramon says if people are able to detect the common symptoms of malaria, they are in a better chance of getting treatment before it destroys their organs.
Dr Ramon says malaria can cause severe damage if not treated in time.
“The common symptoms of malaria are very similar to flu likes illnesses. You are going to get fever, headaches, muscle pains, you are going to feel very tired, sometimes there’s nausea, sometimes there’s diarrhea. Those are the common symptoms of uncomplicated malaria. If you don’t treat it then it becomes severe, then you are going to the stage of having loss of consciousness and organ failure and then you really need to go to the hospital and be treated in the ICU.”
VIDEO| Efforts to fight malaria:
