Health dept calls for vigilance against malaria after recording increase in cases

JOHANNESBURG - The national health department is calling for vigilance against malaria during the Easter holiday break.

The department said the country recorded an increase of malaria cases, particularly in vulnerable zones including Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.

Outbreaks of malaria in neighbouring countries within the SADC region have also been noted, posing a threat of possible cross-border transmission of the disease.

Spokesperson Foster Mohale said the department remained on high alert in case of sudden peaks in local malaria transmissions.

"The Department of Health would like to urge all travellers and communities to remain vigilant of malaria diseases. The diseases are primarily transmitted through a bite of an infected female mosquito called anopheline. Common malaria symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite or vomiting."