Malaria confusion in Gauteng
2013-02-06 15:37
Johannesburg - A Gauteng resident has died of
malaria after mysteriously contracting it without a recent history of
travelling to a high-risk area.
The person was among six people
who were diagnosed with the disease without having travelled to areas
with a high risk of malaria.
The star reports that National Institute for Communicable Diseases' Dr Lucille Blumberg said it was rare for people to contract malaria without visiting endemic areas.
Blumberg said it could have been caused by mosquitoes that had hidden themselves in the cars driven by
the holidaymakers who were returning home, or had hidden themselves in
suitcases or other containers.
“It’s not common that mosquitoes
find a way into containers or suitcases of the holidaymakers. Even if
they do, they are not going to survive for long,” Blumberg said.
There have been three cases reported in Kempton Park and another three near Bronkhorstspruit.
There was no reason to panic as yet according to Blumberg, but people who had
travelled to malaria-prevalent areas such as Mozambique should seek medical
help immediately if they developed flu-like symptoms.
Visitors to areas such as Mpumalanga around Mbombela, the Kruger National Park
and some parts of Limpopo and northern areas of KwaZulu-Natal are being advised to take the necessary precautions and use repellants.
