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https://apanews.net/zimbabwe-m...uthern-africa-surge/ Zimbabwe malaria cases quadruple amid southern Africa surge AFRIQUE DU SUD | SOUTH AFRICA APA-Johannesburg (South Africa)APA-Johannesburg (South Africa)25 July 2025 | 13:35 Zimbabwe is facing a dramatic resurgence of malaria, with suspected cases surging nearly fourfold in 2025, according to new data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Africa CDC reported on Friday that the country had recorded 111,998 cases and 310 deaths by mid-year, up from 29,031 cases and 49 deaths during the same period in 2024. It attributed the spike to prolonged rains, low use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and increased exposure from high-risk livelihoods such as gold panning, fishing and artisanal mining. “This surge is no coincidence,” Africa CDC epidemiologist Memory Mapfumo Africa CDC. “Prolonged rains have fuelled mosquito breeding, while activities like gold panning, fishing and artisanal mining are exposing more individuals to risk, especially during peak mosquito activity hours.” The outbreak has affected 115 of Zimbabwe’s 1,705 health facilities, straining an already burdened healthcare system. Mashonaland Central province accounts for 32 percent of all cases, while Manicaland has reported 25 percent of malaria-related deaths. Zimbabwe’s crisis reflects a broader regional trend. Botswana, Namibia and Eswatini have all reported sharp increases in malaria cases this year. Botswana saw a 10-fold rise, with 2,223 cases and 11 deaths, mostly concentrated in the Okavango region. Namibia has reported 89,959 cases and 146 deaths, with 18 percent of infections imported from neighbouring countries. Eswatini, which is in the malaria elimination phase, recorded 187 cases, with children and farmers among the most affected. Experts warn that climate change, cross-border transmission and gaps in healthcare access are expanding the reach of malaria across southern Africa. “As climate change accelerates, we are witnessing shifts in temperature and rainfall that are expanding the range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, introducing vectors into previously unaffected regions,” Africa CDC head of surveillance and disease intelligence Merawi Aragaw said. He noted that this is not only a regional issue but a global challenge that calls for coordinated international efforts. “Sustained vector control measures – including environmental management, strengthening surveillance, drug and diagnostic resistance monitoring and fostering cross-border collaboration – will be critical in mitigating the growing threat of vector-borne diseases, especially malaria.” Malaria could reclaim its place as one of Africa’s deadliest diseases unless urgent action is taken to address the contributory factors, he warned. JN/APA Kathi kathi@wildtravel.net 708-425-3552 "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." | ||
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Malaria is endemic in Africa and IMO impossible to eradicate; the provision of medical assistance is only a temporary measure due to a large percentage of the ignorant population (not by choice) which mainly induces negative results to any well-intentioned intervention. Heavier than normal rainfall will undoubtedly raise the rate of infection for obvious reasons especially in the rural areas where a proper drainage system is yet to be discovered; basic methods of preventing infection such as the deployment of repellent-treated or plain mosquito nets is frowned upon mainly because they are too hot to sleep under. The UN spent millions in mosquito net projects though they failed miserably as the rural population couldn't afford them anyway albeit at throwaway prices. They obviously cannot afford mosquito coils which to them is similar to burning the little money they have so resort to burning traditional plants. The respective governments seem to ignore the plight of its citizens as they do little if nothing to assist though not uncommon seeing the fumigating unit operating in built up areas in some African countries but if any reliance is to be placed on Zimbabwean government officials to come to the rescue, keep on dreaming. | |||
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A few years ago I went to Kisumu in western Kenya on a school building project with my Rotary club. One of the team was a doctor so we arranged for him to work at a local clinic where they had never had a proper doctor. The first day when I drove him there we found over 400 patients waiting to see him. When I collected him in the evening he had seen less than half the people. He said they were mainly malaria patients. Every individual had been given a mosquito net but the men had taken the nets and used them for fishing in Lake Victoria. The area was over-fished so they were down to catching tiny fry. The doctor remarked that he had probably killed a few people that day through mis-diagnosis but he had saved over a hundred lives so he could live with that! | |||
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