Malaria warning

The flooding of the Okavango delta, the Thamalakane River and other rivers is threatening to leave a terrible legacy – malaria.

There is a higher risk now of infection in the Ngamiland and Chobe areas because of large-scale flooding, which means mosquitoes are congregating on stagnant pools of water which turn into easy breeding places.

The Health ministry recently launched the national malaria elimination campaign in Francistown with the aim of mobilising all Batswana to support the ambitious national target of malaria elimination.

Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow colouring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells. Infection with one type of malaria, P. falciparum , if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death. Malaria can be cured with prescription drugs. The type of drugs and length of treatment depend on which kind of malaria is diagnosed, where the patient was infected, the age of the patient, and how severely ill the patient was at start of treatment. Â prophylaxis with Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil), or doxycycline is recommended for the north (north of 22 degrees South including the Central, Chobe, Ghanzi, and Ngamiland districts),as well as for safaris to the Okavango Delta.

Thanks for the timely warning though, no doubt, there will still be kids posting about "do I really need to bother with anti-malarials? They are rather expensive."

Dave