15 Jun 2014

Following malaria outbreak in Palapye and surrounding areas, the village's District Health Management Team (DHMT) is not expecting any more cases of malaria this winter.

Briefing Palapye sub-council on June 11, the senior nursing officer, Ms Sekani Chikunyana said vector mosquitoes were sensitive to low temperatures therefore no cases of malaria were expected during this period.

She said a team from Francistown arrived in Palapye in May to conduct entomological investigations and indoor residual spraying in Malaka and started entomological investigation the following day by assessing vector densities in houses of the most affected ward.

She said it was observed that there were high densities of non-vector mosquitoes in the assessed households and low densities of vector mosquitoes.  She attributed the scenario low temperatures as they were sensitive to temperature changes.

The official explained that during the malaria transmission season 2013/14, the district started reporting malaria cases last December from different villages. She said from end of February the number of malaria cases increased. She said 55 cases of malaria were recorded by the DHMT of which more than half were seen at Palapye Primary Hospital, followed by Malaka with 12 cases. 

She said Malaka which had not reported a single malaria case for the past five years reported a malaria case in March which increased in April.
Three deaths were recorded this year due to malaria compared to two deaths recorded last year.

Furthermore, Ms Chikunyana stated that the team from National Malaria Programme also assessed the possibility of doing larviding, where water will be screened to check for larva.

There was a lot of surface water in the village of Malaka but most of it was flowing. 

There were also some small temporary water pools, something that was indicative of conditions of vector mosquitoes breeding.

She said since Palapye district is classified as a malaria free district in the country, the village DHMT was still awaiting feedback as to whether Palapye will be declared a malaria zone.

Furthermore, Ms Chikunyana said the DHMT had the opportunity to share with Malaka community some tips about prevention of malaria. ENDS