Summer, the institution recalls, usually marks the beginning of the malaria season in the continent due to the increase in temperature and rainfall.
In a statement, the entity revealed that malaria-endemic regions began to see an increase in the number of cases of the disease, as expected, marking the beginning of the malaria season.
About 4.9 million South Africans are at risk of contracting malaria, most of them in the provinces of Limpopo (north), Mpumalanga (east) and KwaZulu-Natal (southeast), which are the most vulnerable to deadly disease. to time.
The health institution encourages travelers who plan to go to the regions to consider taking antimalarial prophylaxis, especially if they plan to stay in high-risk areas.
Doxycycline, he recommends, and atovaquone-proguanil can be bought without a prescription at pharmacies and travel clinics in the public health sector.
Among other behavioral precautions, NICD recommends, efforts should be made to reduce contact with mosquitoes by limiting outdoor activity after dark, covering bare skin, including feet and ankles. , and using mosquito repellents with at least a 10 percent DEET.
Likewise, he added in a statement, make sure the screens on the windows are closed and use mosquito nets and fans or air conditioning.
On the other hand, those returning from malaria transmission areas, including low-risk areas, must immediately report any illness with flu-like symptoms to health authorities.
