Windhoek, 25 December (IANS). Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) has issued an alert following an increase in malaria cases in the northern regions of the country.
“2,210 cases were reported as of December 15 and 265 serious cases were reported during the period from November 4 to December 15, including nine deaths,” Ben Nangombe, executive director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS), said in a statement. .
“16 districts have crossed the malaria epidemic threshold and are facing outbreaks,” he said.
Affected districts include Inhana, which has 661 cases or 30 percent of the total, followed by Okongo with 336 cases (15 percent). Nangombe said other districts affected include Outapi, Ngela, Nkurenkuru, Oshakati and Omuthiya.
According to Nangombe, people in the southern African nation suffer from seasonal malaria from December to April, Xinhua news agency reported.
To reduce infection, the ministry sprays indoor residuals and provides mosquito nets treated with insecticides. Along with this, the ministry appealed to the people to use mosquito nets and wear full sleeve clothes to avoid mosquitoes.
“It has been observed that those grazing cattle across the border were suffering from malaria. They have been identified as one of the originators of the epidemic,” he said.
The Ministry has put in place a robust surveillance system to monitor malaria cases and launched a robust community education campaign to raise awareness on malaria control and prevention.
This infection is caused by a parasite and does not spread from one person to another.
–IANS
MKS/KR
