Malaria Transmission Season Has Begun in Southern Africa February- May, 2003

WHO has declared that the malaria season for 2002 /2003 has begun within Southern Africa. Droughts and floods make the population vulnerable to malaria epidemics.

In Southern Africa malaria kills over 200 000 people every year and the transmission of malaria in the region is high mainly from January- May of each year. In January 2003 cases of malaria have already started to increase slowly. Malaria increases have been reported in Gaza and Maputo province, Mozambique, and Manicaland province in Zimbabwe and the Northern province of South Africa. As the sporadic rains intensify, the cases of malaria may increase rapidly. As this malaria season evolves, it is essential that national malaria control programmes and Ministries of Health put in place mechanisms and strategies to rapidly respond to malaria epidemics during the months of February to March to mitigate the effects of increased malaria transmission. During the malarious transmission period people living or visiting malarial areas will be at greater risk of malaria. Those at highest risk of malaria are due to low immunity to the disease: under- five-year children, pregnant women, chronically ill.

In Southern Africa, floods occurred in January 2003 in Nampula Province of Mozambique and North and Southern regions of Malawi. The floods that occurred have a potential of increasing the mosquito breeding sites.  Occurrence of dry spells after the floods facilitates increased mosquito breeding.  Following the floods with warm temperature a remarkable increase in the number of malaria cases can be expected.

Climatic variation in Southern Africa causes annual and cyclical periods of low rainfall, drought alternating with heavy rains and floods which cause sudden changes in malaria transmission; drought causes low food availability and intake with increased malnutrition which amplifies vulnerability to malaria especially in children and pregnant women in normally high malaria transmission areas. Rains and floods after drought greatly increases malaria-breeding sites and causes a biological rebound and results in malaria epidemics especially in low transmission areas.

Ministries of Health through their respective national malaria control managers and programmes should ensure that:-

	All houses targeted for spraying should be completed by February 2003.
	All old mosquito nets are retreated with anti-malaria insecticides and new mosquitoe nets are being distributed.
	Education campaigns on malaria are in place to educate and mobilise people on malaria.
	All health institutions and clinics with staff should have been re-trained and should have adequate drugs to attend to major malaria cases.
	Emergency buffer stock of drugs, nets and insecticide materials are in place to respond to the  Epidemics.

Joint coordinated action required by National Roll Back malaria Partners, Multilateral and Bilateral Health Agencies:-

	Mobilization of local, religious, traditional and political leaders to support local action and local mobilization of resources
	Joint coordinated support from relevant stakeholders, NGOs under the leadership of  national malaria control programmes and Ministries of Health is required to support a rapid delivery response to mitigate the impact of malaria.
	Prepare to provide emergency funds, and mobilize emergency technical assistance to national programmes to target drought and malaria affected districts.

Remember: Malaria is Preventable and Curable. It is your responsibility to protect your self and your family from malaria by: 

	Making sure your house walls are sprayed with insecticides against mosquitoes
	Sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito nets to avoid mosquito bites.
	Taking anti- malarial tablets for protection-prophylaxis when visiting malarious areas.
	Seeking malaria treatment immediately if you develop a fever or any   signs and symptoms of malaria
	Severe malaria is an emergency-and life threatening and requires immediate referral to a district hospital.

If you develop signs and symptoms similar to those of malaria, report to your nearest health worker, clinic or hospital for further treatment and management.

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