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Botswana: Malaria Hits Bobirwa, Phikwe
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
17 April 2008
Posted to the web 17 April 2008
Onalenna Modikwa
Selebi-Phikwe
An outbreak of malaria in Bobirwa and Selebi-Phikwe regions has claimed a number of lives, Mmegi has learnt.
Though the details are sketchy, health officials in the two regions have confirmed the outbreak and said they are still doing investigations. One doctor stated that he could not give full details as they were still touring the regions that have experienced the outbreak. "Yes we have had an outbreak but we are still doing investigations to get statistics." It is said Ministry of Health officials toured Bobirwa villages last week to assess the situation and get statistics.
Though details were not available at the time of going to press, a brief from the Ministry of Health indicates that despite heavy rainfall, the malaria situation in the country is still stable with relatively lower cases reported nationally than before. The brief said that so far, 1,248 unconfirmed malaria cases, 329 confirmed cases and two deaths have been reported during the transmission season from November 3, 2007 to March 8, 2008. "Although we have not yet experienced high levels of reported cases, the National Malaria Control Programme is closely monitoring the situation as we have not reached the expected peak period which usually appears around end of March and April," the brief said.
Malaria, which is transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito, is a major public health problem in Botswana. Transmission mainly occurs during the rainy season between November and May. There is a significant variation in the degree of transmission from year to year depending on the amount of rainfall and suitable conditions. A significant number of malaria cases generally appear in early January and the peak is usually during the months of March and April.
Major Malaria epidemics in the country occurred in 1988, 1993, 1996 and 1997 resulting in significant loss of life. The districts that have suffered from malaria outbreaks include Ngami, Okavango, Chobe, Tutume, Boteti, Francistown, Serowe/Palapye, Ghanzi and Bobirwa. The worst ever malaria outbreak in Botswana occurred in 1996 and 1997 when more than 300 lives were lost. This forced the government to put up an epidemics preparedness and response system and weekly surveillance and reporting of malaria.
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