Malaria claims 186 lives in Limpopo over a two year period
The majority of those killed by the deadly disease are children between the ages of one and 10 years according to WHO
LIMPOPO – A total of 186 people have been killed by malaria in South Africa in the past two years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported last week.
According to WHO, the majority of those killed by the deadly disease are children between the ages of one and 10 years. The report claims that the total number of deaths reported in SA due to Malaria so far this year is 76. “At the same time last year, malaria had killed 58 people,” revealed the report.
Mark Eldon-Edington, Head of the Global Fund Management which has partnered with South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique to fight malaria in the three countries, told CV that the increase in the infection and death rates had been attributed to the rise in ambient temperature, rainfall and humidity, especially during the winter season.
The escalated death rate due to malaria infection comes weeks after the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that in 2015, an estimated 429 000 people died of malaria worldwide. Of the total deaths, 303 000, which is equivalent to 70%, are children mostly below the age of five. To date, Mozambique has the highest number of malaria infection with 7,7 million, followed by 8 976 in South Africa and 651 in Swaziland.
In South Africa, Limpopo has seen a proportionately high number of cases this season, with 1 648 cases and three deaths.
An outbreak was reported in Thabazimbi and Lephalale in the western Waterberg district of Limpopo in February and early March.
But the ever-escalating rate of malaria infection is set to decline in southern Africa due to an exuberant financial injection from the Global Fund.
The organisation has unleashed R130 million to help and educate people about malaria and fight the epidemic to the core.
