1 067 malaria cases reported during February

During the first two weeks of February 2015, the number of malaria cases reported in Limpopo was very low.

Since the 3^rd week of February, cases increased considerably in most malaria transmission areas in the province.

During the last two weeks of February, 459 and 498 cases were reported respectively (compared to 31 & 79 cases reported the 1^st two weeks in February).

This brings the total number of cases for February to 1,067 with 831 cases reported in January.

The upsurge in cases is widespread within many communities, with no local outbreaks observed in single localities.

The areas mostly affected are Mutale, eastern parts of Thulamela and Greater Giyani Municipalities.

Some isolated cases are also reported from Greater Letaba, Greater Tzaneen, Ba-Phalaborwa and Maruleng municipalities.

As Limpopo is a known malaria transmission area, the Department of Health has taken extensive measures over the past year, to control the spread of malaria.

The major prevention strategy, namely the indoor residual spraying programme, was run between September 2014 & February 2015.

During this period, teams from the Department conducted spraying in each community at risk of malaria, with more than 1,1 million houses sprayed over the past 6 months.

This activity was supported by community awareness campaigns and control of malaria mosquito breeding in defined areas.

Steps were also taken to ensure that all the Primary Health Care facilities and Hospitals are adequately geared to diagnose and treat malaria.

In order to deal with the current upsurge of cases, the Department has embarked on a number of activities:

• Additional chemicals for house spraying were procured and delivered during the last week of February. Malaria spray teams are already active in communities that reported increased cases, to conduct follow-up spraying. This spraying will continue until the end of March, when we will be nearing the end of the current malaria transmission season.
• Outreach teams have been activated and are conducting campaigns in affected communities, to create malaria awareness and to encourage early treatment seeking behaviour.
• Training of Primary Health Care nurses was conducted towards the end of 2014, to ensure the correct clinical management of malaria affected patients.
• The province is also in the process to roll-out a new malaria treatment for severe malaria at hospital level. Limpopo will be the first province to introduce this treatment, IV Artesunate, at all public hospitals.

Limpopo Health has a 24 hour malaria reporting system and the current situation is monitored daily.

The Department also has the capacity to respond to any changes in the transmission and distribution of malaria.

A few isolated malaria cases have been reported outside the normal malaria transmission areas.

While this is mostly as a result of movement of people between malaria transmission and malaria free areas, already infected malaria mosquitoes can also enter such areas, being transported in vehicles and containers.

This highlights the importance of malaria awareness among our community members and health care workers, to ensure early testing and treatment.