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Mashudu Mambo, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has expressed concern over the sharp increase in malaria cases in the country where more than 500 people succumbed to the disease last year, an increase of more than 100 percent from 2016.
A total of 507 people died of malaria last year from 392 000 recorded cases which is an increase of 119 percent from 2016 where 231 people died out of 221 220 malaria cases which were recorded.
Director in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Joseph Mberi said there were 392 000 malaria cases last year which was a significant increase from the 2016 recorded cases.
“By week 51 we had recorded a cumulative total of 392 000 malaria cases and 507 deaths from January to December 2017,” said Dr Mberi.
In March the ministry’s disease surveillance report showed that 151 people had succumbed to malaria in the first three months of the year and Government warned of an increase in malaria cases due to heavy rains received in the previous rainy season.
“The heavy rains that we received last rainy season translate to more mosquitoes therefore more malaria cases. That is what has affected us. It’s a natural phenomenon in terms of the transmission dynamics of malaria,” he said.
Dr Mberi said flood victims, cross border traders, those who work at night and refugees from countries like Mozambique were at high risk of contracting malaria.
At the beginning of last year, the ministry embarked on malaria awareness campaigns and conducted spraying sessions in the affected areas.
Dr Mberi blamed some churches for worsening the situation by promising miracle healing to malaria patients and urged people to seek urgent medical attention in cases of malaria.
Malaria is caused by plasmodium parasite. The parasite can be spread to human beings through bites by an infected mosquito.
Dr Mberi said the most affected provinces were Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland.
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