What you need to know about malaria
Highway residents who are travelling are urged to check whether their destination is a high-risk malaria zone.
MALARIA is endemic in parts of several African countries as well as parts of South Africa, and it is vital you know whether the area you are travelling to is high-risk.
If you are travelling to a high-risk area, ensure you are prepared as malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by a parasite called plasmodium and is transmitted to people by the female anopheles mosquito.
“Initial symptoms in people who are infected can include a fever, chills, fatigue, headache, joint pain, dizziness and vomiting. Symptoms can present any time from one week to a year after a person is infected,” said Chitra Bodasing, spokesman for ER24.
“If you experience some or all of these symptoms, visit a doctor immediately. Even if you had taken prophylactic medication, there is still a risk that you may have contracted malaria and therefore, the treating doctor must be advised of your travel.”
Malaria can cause damage to the kidneys and heart and medication must be completed to prevent further complications or death. To reduce your chances of developing malaria, visit a medical professional or travel clinic prior to departure to obtain the correct prophylactic medication.
Before travelling to your destination, pack long-sleeved shirts or blouses and long pants to take along with you. These should be worn especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Pack insect repellents and a mosquito net. When you are at your destination, keep main doors and windows closed between dusk and dawn.
