There has been a significant decrease of 65 percent in the number of malaria cases in the country.

"The number of malaria cases in South Africa has decreased by 65 percent, while deaths have been reduced by 73 percent," the Department of Health said Wednesday.

This represents a remarkable achievement, as one of the outcomes of government's programme of action is to reduce malaria cases by 10 percent per year.

The previous malaria season between June 2006 and March 2007, saw more than 3 000 cases being reported. This is compared to more than 10 000 malaria cases in the corresponding period between 2005 and 2006.

The health department has attributed the decline to several interventions including:

* an increase in indoor residual spraying using Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane with an overall coverage of more than 80 percent, with the spraying being completed before the peak in malaria transmission;

* the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy;

* intensified surveillance, leading to early detection of any rise in malaria cases in high risk areas, by well-prepared epidemic preparedness teams; and

* advocacy with mass community mobilisation and training of healthcare workers in the malaria affected areas.

The director of communicable disease control, Bonny Maloba, said the disease transmission occurs mainly in the low-lying areas of Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.

Ms Malobo said the concern however, was that the parasite is able to develop resistance against drugs that are developed, but campaigns are in place to address this.

South Africa is working together with Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe in two separate cross-border malaria control initiatives, in an effort to decline malaria cases.

This news comes as the continent observes Africa Malaria Day, commemorated annually on 25 April. The theme for this year is "Free Africa from malaria now."

This day was chosen by African governments committed to reverse the progression of malaria and meet the malaria-related UN Millennium Development Goals.

Malaria day gives an opportunity for countries to celebrate the successes they have had with controlling malaria and to reflect on the challenges they have experienced.

"Collaboration amongst African countries plays a significant role in improving the effectiveness of malaria control programme since malaria vectors [mosquitoes] have no regard for national borders," said the department of health.

South Africa has also partnered with other African countries and the United Nations in a "Roll Back malaria partnership" which supports several events worldwide and aims to eradiate the disease by 2010.

According to the World Health Organisation, at least 300 million cases of malaria are reported each year globally, resulting in more than a million deaths.

At least 90 percent of these deaths occur in Africa, mostly in young children.

Malaria is transmitted to human beings by the bite of a female anopheles mosquito that is infected with the malaria parasite.

It can cause kidney or liver failure, coma and even death if not treated in time. Early symptoms include flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, joint pain and chills.

There is no vaccine for malaria, but people can prevent getting the disease by taking anti-malaria drugs and avoiding mosquito bites. -