“Limpopo has seen a surge in the number of cases that rose to 1423 and two deaths during the past four weeks. These numbers are high compared to the previous years. In the 2022/2023 financial year 1745 cases were recorded,” said Neil Shikwambana spokesperson for the Department of Health in Limpopo.

The current surge is attributed to favourable weather conditions for mosquito breeding and travelling during the Easter holidays. “The surge in the province is reported mainly in the malaria epidemic-prone areas of Vhembe (northern and eastern Lowveld areas) and the eastern part of the Mopani region.”
He said 820 cases were reported in Vhembe and 423 in Mopani.

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Hospitals that recorded the majority of cases are Donald Fraser, Malamulele, Tshilidzini, Letaba, Maphuta Malatji, and Nkhensani, and the clinics within the feeder areas of the hospitals. “The department wishes to warn community members in other areas to be alert.” The National Institute of
Communicable Diseases (NICS) urges any individual presenting with fever or ‘flu-like symptoms and residing in a malaria-risk area in Limpopo, KwaZuluNatal, and Mpumalanga or have travelled to a malaria-risk area in the past six weeks, to get tested for malaria by blood smear microscopy or malaria
rapid diagnostic test.

“If they test positive for malaria, the patient must be started on treatment immediately. “Malaria symptoms include fever and flu-like symptoms such as shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur in some cases. “Malaria is a treatable condition when discovered early, and therefore, community members are advised to visit their nearest healthcare facilities as soon as they suspect that they could have contracted the disease.

So far, over a million households have been reached through the department’s indoor residual spraying campaign,” Shikwambana said. Surveillance teams are currently investigating all notified cases at community level which involves contact tracing and awareness related to prevention and early
treatment-seeking behaviour, the department concluded.