The Mpumalanga Department of Health in South Africa(SA) is urging residents to remain cautious following a sharp rise in confirmed malaria cases in the province. The department registered more than 300 cases last month, compared to fewer than 70 cases during the same period in 2025.
Director for Communicable Diseases, Mandla Zwane, has attributed the increase in malaria infections to the recent floods that have affected parts of the province, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding.
Zwane says the Ehlanzeni District is currently the hardest hit, with several local municipalities recording high numbers of cases.
“We are saying there is an increase of cases this year compared to last year because last year the whole January we had 69 cases but if you look now, we have 314 cases hence there is an increase of cases. The mostly affected district its Ehlanzeni that mostly affected the sub-district that is local Municipality which are Nkomazi, city of Mbomela and Bushbuckridge and high numbers of those cases are at Nkomazi.”)
The department has urged residents, especially those in affected areas, to seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms such as fever, headaches, chills and body pains. Health officials have also called on communities to eliminate stagnant water around their homes and to use mosquito nets and repellents to reduce the risk of infection.
–ChannelAfrica–
