MALARIA OUTBREAK, 60 CASES REPORTED

MBABANE - While the country is still celebrating low COVID-19 infections, malaria cases are shooting up.

An outbreak of malaria has been reported around the northern part of the Hhohho Region in the country. A total of 60 cases of the disease have been recorded in the month of April only in the affected areas. Malaria is a deadly disease caused by a parasite which is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. People who have malaria feel sick and exhibit a high fever and shaking chills.

Confirmed

National Malaria Programme Manager Quinton Dlamini confirmed that there was an alarming rise in cases of malaria that had been reported in the country, mainly in the northern part of the Hhohho Region. “Most of the cases of malaria came from Nyonyane, Madlangempisi, Bulandzeni, Dvokolwako and Mkhiweni. The National Malaria Programme launched an investigation and it was discovered that the potential driver to the outbreak was the harvesting season, where people are exposed to all kinds of insects,” said Dlamini. He said there would be campaigns to raise awareness on malaria countrywide. Following the alarming rise in malaria cases in the country, the National Malaria Programme compiled an ‘Outbreak Investigation Report’ which was compiled after a field visit on April 13, 2020.

According to the report, the purpose of the field trip was to confirm and characterise the outbreak at the level of the most affected constituencies, communities and health facilities in order to confirm the outbreak and respond appropriately. The report reflected that unlike in previous years where the most infected gender were females, this year, the disease was more prevalent among males aged between 20 and 26. It was also reflected that the most affected constituencies were Madlangempisi, Ndzingeni, Siphofaneni and Sithobela while the most affected localities were Bulandzeni, Mkhiweni, Nkamazi, KaNgcamphalala. “The senior nurse at Nyonyane Clinic was aware of the rising cases of malaria after all suspected cases were systematically tested for the disease. Some people were exposed to malaria while working in the fields and some were exposed at home. Also, a lot of Mozambique nationals were located in the affected areas,” reads the report in part. Worth noting is that Mozambique normally has high cases of malaria.

The report also revealed that there were many severe malaria cases, with some patients being hospitalised. However, the exact number of the hospitalised patients was not revealed. Director of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula confirmed that there was a malaria outbreak, stating that it was mainly in the northern parts of the country.

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