23 January 2006
The Gauteng Health Department maintains there is no outbreak of malaria in
the province but remain concerned and on high alert about the rapidly
increasing infection rate since the beginning of 2006.
A spokesperson for the provincial Health Department, Bhungani ka Mzolo says
the infection rate had by the end of last week climbed to 473 with six
dead.
One person died at the Kalafong Hospital in Tshwane, two at Tembisa
Hospital, one at Tambo Memorial Hospital, one at Edenvale Hospital and one at
Coronation Hospital.
According to ka Mzolo many patients had been treated and discharged, adding
seriously ill people remain in hospital for further treatment and
observation.
He says of the 202 cases noted in Ekurhuleni, where the most cases were
reported, 119 people have been discharged, West Rand 45 cases noted, 39
discharged; Johannesburg Metro 142 cases noted and 21 discharged; Tshwane 59
cases noted, 26 discharged (one person refused treatment); and in Sedibeng 35
cases noted and 20 discharged.
"There is no outbreak in Gauteng. It is people who travelled outside Gauteng
that contracted the disease. Holiday makers coming back from the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia and Limpopo, are the ones being
treated in local hospitals," ka Mzolo said.
He emphasises the disease is not transferable by normal interaction with
other people and that a person has to be bitten by a malaria-carrying mosquito
to contract the disease. "We don't have that breed of mosquitoes in Gauteng,"
he adds.
Symptoms of the diseases include flu-like occurrences such as coughing,
sweating and body temperature fluctuations. Any person who travelled outside
the province borders and experiencing symptoms resembling those of cold, should
report to the nearest health institution for a check-up.
Ka Mzolo says the situation is under control, and that Health MEC Gwen
Ramokgopa urges health institutions to be on high alert and on the look-out for
malaria cases.
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
23 January 2006
Source: SAPA
