LIMPOPO – The Department of Health and Welfare in Limpopo says the outbreak of malaria in some areas of the province is now under control. The outbreak occurred in Bushbuckridge, Phalaborwa, the Vhembe District and Giyani.

Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, and in Africa, is most prevalent in sub-Saharan countries. Infection usually produces fever, headache, vomiting and other flue-like symptoms.

A spokesperson for the department, Phuti Seloba, told BuaNews the provincial government had intensified its preventative methods to contain the illness, which has killed 11 people since July.

"We have put in place the necessary measures, like spraying preventative pesticides in all areas of the province to curb the outbreak," he said.

"We normally anticipate this kind of outbreak during this season and we trust that our clinics and hospital can contain it, as they have the relevant medications," he said.

Mr Seloba called on people to rush to clinics or hospitals within their proximity when identifying symptoms of this illness in their bodies.

"We call on people not to take malaria lightly; we urge them to go to clinics within their jurisdiction when identifying symptoms of this illness," he said.

Malaria kills by infecting and destroying red blood cells (anaemia) and by clogging the vessels that carry blood to the brain (cerebral malaria) or other vital organs.

If drugs are not available for treatment or the parasites are resistant to them, the infection progresses rapidly to become life-threatening. - BuaNews