MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) - An abnormal increase in malaria cases in the area during January this year is directly linked to the entering and employment of illegal immigrants and migrant workers.

Mr Philip Kruger, Malaria Control Programme Manager of the provincial Department of Health and Social Development, said on February 1 that the rise in malaria cases is a result of migrant workers (legal and illegal) returning to South Africa after their holiday back home in Zimbabwe or Mozambique. Malaria parasites enter the country mostly through migrant workers, which in turn result in vector mosquitoes getting infected with malaria parasites.

“The employment of migrant workers from countries with high risk malaria areas poses a risk to our malaria situation. Individuals employing such workers should realise that such a risk exists and try to minimise the risk by employing local labour,” Mr Kruger said. This rise is observed every January.

The incidence of malaria is far higher in the three neighbouring countries bordering the Limpopo Province. Although these countries have malaria control programs, the malaria situation there is far worse than in South Africa.

The increase in malaria cases in January also results from South Africans returning from holidays in high-risk areas.

The Vhembe, Mopani and Bohlabela Districts of the Limpopo Province are malaria high-risk areas. For the past five malaria seasons, between 3 000 and 9 900 malaria cases have been reported in the province.

For the present malaria season that started on July 1 last year, 3 471 malaria cases and 27 malaria-related deaths were reported. Over the corresponding period for the 2003/04 season, 3 803 cases and 82 malaria deaths were reported. Apart from the abnormal rise in January, a moderate decrease in cases and a sharp decline in the number of deaths have been reported so far.

The fact remains that the malaria situation in Limpopo is epidemic prone, meaning that there is a potential for focal outbreaks at any time.

The purpose of the malaria control programme is to limit these outbreaks through effective control. Surveillance systems are also in place to monitor any increases and to respond to these. The Malaria Control programme, resorting under the Department of Health and Social Development, has 42 teams consisting of 810 officials who are busy with malaria control operations full-time. Their activities include the spraying of structures and standing water and the tracing of all notified malaria cases to ensure that control efforts are in place in areas where malaria occurred.

As a preventive measure, communities should make provision for drainage of rain and household water near houses. They should also see to it that there is no standing water in either ground pools or articles like empty cans or old car tyres near houses. Individuals should wear long-sleeved clothing to protect exposed skin when outdoors at night. The house could be sprayed inside with an aerosol insecticide (for flying insects) at dusk, especially the bedrooms, after closing the windows. Individuals from outside malaria risk areas who are visiting high risk areas, can take antimalarial drugs to protect themselves against malaria.

The symptoms of malaria are very similar to flu, for example headache, fever, muscular and joint pains, sweating, shivering attacks, nausea, diarrhoea and fatigue. If any of the above symptoms develops, people should immediately consult their nearest clinic, health centre, hospital or doctor. It should be mentioned that the patient was in a malaria risk area. The patient should be tested immediately for malaria (insist on a blood test). If malaria parasites are revealed, appropriate treatment should be given immediately.