"Source: African Eye Polokwane - Malaria has claimed the lives of at least 14 people in Limpopo since October.

While the number of deaths is normal for this time of year, the number of individual malaria cases has risen sharply, said provincial health spokesperson Adele van der Linde.

Last year, only 548 malaria cases were reported between April and December.
This year, 1 498 cases have already been reported and this figure is expected to rise even more, she said.

“As we are approaching the middle of the summer, more malaria cases are to be expected in the known malaria transmission areas of Vhembe, eastern Mopani, Giyani, Musina and Malamulele,” warned Van der Linde. She said the department is monitoring all health facilities in the province daily to detect any increases and to respond when necessary.Malaria tests and treatment are already available at all health facilities.Van der Linde said 42 teams are currently spraying the inside of homes in malaria risk areas to ward of mosquitoes.

“The target is to spray 990 000 structures during the current malaria season. Of these, 560 000 structures have already been sprayed," she said.
Limpopo uses the DDT residual spraying programme to control and prevent malaria.

DDT, which has been banned in many countries, was used in South Africa from 1946 until 1996 when the government also banned its use because of its effect on the environment, on the human immune system and on human hormones.
After it was banned, South Africa was hit by a malaria epidemic that left hundreds dead and thousands infected. After its reintroduction in 2000, the number of malaria cases dropped from 64,868 to 7,754 in 2005."

The interesting points here are that malaria is very rare in those parts of SA where it still occurs seasonally, and that it almost exclusively affects densely populated rural areas. The risk to tourists in the sparsely populated Kruger NP (half of which is in Limpopo) is negligible.

"ANC MP and former SACP member Crosby Moni has died of malaria, it was announced on Monday.

"We are deeply pained by the loss of such an experienced politician, a humble people's servant and an outstanding activist," said Moloto Mothapo, spokesperson for the office of the ANC Chief Whip.

"Comrade Moni's political activism cut across the entire revolutionary tripartite alliance, having held leadership positions within all the structures of the alliance formations," Mothapo said.

Moni contracted malaria during a recent visit to Mozambique and died on Sunday, said SA Communist Party spokesperson Alex Mashilo"

Johan