Malaria remains a deadly global threat: '400,000 people die from this disease annually'
Despite decades of progress, Malaria is still killing, with Africa being the hardest hit.
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702's Gugs Mhlungu spoke to resident GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO, Dr Fundile Nyati.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
The Health Department recently issued a Malaria warning following a rise in cases post-Easter, especially in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and northern KwaZulu-Natal.
"...this disease, which has been there for centuries, which has been responsible for the deaths of millions of people over the centuries, it is still around..."
- Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO
World Malaria Day is observed annually on 25 April, and this year's theme is 'Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite'.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the universal campaign aims to accelerate progress towards Malaria elimination.
Despite decades of progress, Malaria continues to remain a deadly global threat, with most cases occurring in Africa.
Nyati explains that Malaria's persistence is due to the parasite that causes Malaria and the mosquitoes that transmit it, rapidly adapting, developing resistance to both insecticides and anti-malarial drugs, and even evading rapid diagnostic tests.
"...400,000 people every year still die from this disease throughout the world."
- Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO
"...to date, things have been stagnant in terms of the reduction in the case load...we still need to do more."
- Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO
But there is hope.
Nyati states that the WHO has approved two new vaccines, which are reportedly effective in reducing infections by 30% and deaths by 17% in the African countries where they have been administered.
He also emphasises that South Africa's Malaria programmes remain stable despite international funding cuts.
The most common early symptoms of Malaria are fever, headache and chills.
Symptoms usually start within 10 to 15 days of getting bitten.
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