IF you live in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal or Mpumalanga, and have a fever or ‘flu-like’ illness, you should get tested for malaria, advised the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
This also applies to people who have travelled to Mozambique in the past six weeks.
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“Despite South Africa entering its peak malaria season, many malaria cases are being misdiagnosed as Covid-19. Both malaria and Covid-19 have similar, non-specific early symptoms including fever, chills, headaches, fatigue and muscle pain,” said the NICD spokesperson, Sinenhlanhla Jimoh.
Tests that can be done include a rapid diagnostic test or a blood smear microscopy, and patients should immediately start with malaria treatment if they test positive.
In the event that someone is left undiagnosed and untreated, the disease will progress to severe illness, with a potentially fatal outcome.
Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga are considered South Africa’s malaria-risk areas, while Mozambique is among the 10 nations with the highest burden of the fatal disease worldwide.
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