Moffat Mungazi
Health Reporter
HEAVY rainfall being experienced in Manicaland has led to a surge in malaria cases, with 354 reported cases, mostly affecting children under five years old, being recorded across the province since the beginning of the year.
This trend is consistent with the seasonal pattern of malaria transmission in Zimbabwe, which typically peaks between February and May following the rainy season.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care confirmed the outbreak in a weekly update on its official X handle (formerly Twitter), indicating that 354 malaria cases were recorded in the province.
“639 malaria cases and one death in Guruve was recorded, and of the reported cases, 10,3 percent were clients under five years. Provinces that reported the highest cases were Manicaland (354) and Mashonaland Central (117). Cumulative figures are now 1 138 cases and four deaths,” reported the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
To combat the outbreak, Government, with support from organisations like World Health Organisation (WHO), implemented various control measures, including indoor residual spraying (IRS), distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and case management.
In Manicaland, IRS campaigns have been effective in reducing malaria transmission, especially in Mutasa, Nyanga and Mutare districts – which are prone to the disease due to a combination of geographical, climatic, and environmental factors.
The districts are situated in a region with a high malaria transmission risk, near the Mozambican border and experience subtropical climate with high temperatures and rainfall during the summer months, creating ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
Their topography and vegetation – numerous rivers, streams, wetlands, dams, or other water bodies, coupled with dense vegetation, provide abundant breeding sites and shelter for mosquitoes.
Mutare District Health Promotion Officer, Mrs Sophia Nezandonyi, revealed that at least 63 cases have been recorded since the beginning of the year, marking an increase compared to the same period last year.
She said malaria cases were more prevalent in Bazel Bridge, Chitakatira, while the usual hotspot of Burma Valley has not reported any cases.
Mrs Nezandonyi attributed the surge in malaria cases to the recent heavy rainfall, which has led to an increase in mosquito breeding sites.
As the primary vectors of the disease, mosquitoes thrive in areas with standing water, making the current wet conditions ideal for their proliferation.
“In 2025, we have recorded 63 cases of malaria to date. We have received a lot of rains in January, which increased the breeding cycle for the vector mosquitoes, coupled with people not practicing preventive measures, spending the whole day in the fields and getting home late. Some even sleep in the fields guarding their crops or working in banana plantations. Most cases have been reported in Bazel Bridge and Chitakatira, while our hotspot, Burma Valley area has not reported any cases yet. We encourage people to practice malaria prevention and control during the evening and early hours,” she said.
Mrs Nezandonyi appealed to residents to take proactive steps to prevent malaria transmission.
She recommended using insecticide-treated mosquito nets, applying insect repellents, and eliminating stagnant water around homes to prevent mosquito breeding, thereby reducing the risk of contracting the disease.
“People should use repellents and put on clothes that cover the whole body to reduce the chances of being bitten by mosquitoes. They should also use mosquito nets during the evening and map areas where mosquitos are breeding and ask for larvicides to target and eliminate the vector mosquitoes at the larval stage, preventing them from reaching adulthood and transmitting diseases like malaria.
“We also encourage the communities to seek treatment early the moment they suspect malaria, especially when they have symptoms like headache and fever. They should not stay at home, but go to the nearest clinic or village health workers trained to test malaria and treat it,” she said.
Malaria remains a significant public health concern in the province in particular and Zimbabwe in general, with over five million people at risk of contracting the disease annually.
Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to malaria due to several factors, among them – the fact that their immune systems are still developing, making it harder for them to fight off the malaria parasite.
Children under five years have not yet developed immunity to malaria, which is typically acquired through repeated exposure to the parasite. They often play outdoors, increasing their exposure to mosquito bites, and may not be able to use insecticide-treated nets or insect repellents correctly.
In 2013, the country recorded 377 872 malaria cases and 351 deaths, with children under five years, pregnant women, and people living with HIV and AIDS being the most vulnerable groups.
Online Reporter