Malaria alert issued to Gauteng health care workers

An alert has been issued to health care worker s in clinics around Gauteng and some private hospitals according to Dr Patience Kweza – National Institute for Communicable Diseases (Epidemiologist: Outbreak Response Unit Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response).
The alert was issued after two cases of malaria infection were reported on January 15 this year by people who had not travelled to Malaria endemic areas. One of the patients was from Eldorado Park and the other from Lenasia. According to the mother of one of the patients he had only travelled with family to Kimberley in the Northern Cape and became ill on his return.
According to the alert: ‘Two patients with severe malaria were reported on 15 January 2014, one a resident of Lenasia and the other a resident of Eldorado Park, Gauteng Province. Neither of the patients had recently travelled to malaria-endemic areas, and there are no common links between the patients. These are both unusual cases of malaria due to importation of infected mosquitoes from endemic areas. However, given the number of travellers returning from malaria-endemic areas, further cases are possible and need to be identified promptly. Healthcare workers need to maintain a high index of suspicion for malaria in all patients presenting with fever > 38?C, headache, flu-like illness, or fever plus impaired consciousness with no obvious cause, in whom no recent history of travel to a malaria area is forthcoming. A single negative malaria test does NOT exclude malaria. If clinical suspicion for malaria is high and the first test negative, repeat tests every 12-24 hours until the patient is better or an alternative diagnosis is confirmed. Low platelets that are otherwise unexplained may indicate the possibility of malaria. Malaria is a notifiable medical condition and must be reported to local health authorities.’
Recently emails and whatsapp messages began circulating indicating that residents in different areas should avoid the water supply. “This part of the alert was not issued by us,” said Dr Kweza, “It was added by someone and we are in the process of investigating.”  “ The rest of the alert was issued by us to health care workers in the province.,” she said.
The Malaria Alert was issued by Joy Cleghorn, National Infection Control Risk Manager.
For Any questions or concerns can be directed to Dr Kweza patiencek@nicd.ac.za | www.nicd.ac.za or on Tel: +27-(0)11 555 0541 | Fax: +27-(0)11-386 6584.