Zambezi records over 2 000 new malaria cases, 4 deaths in a week

Zambezi region malaria infections have spiked with 2 138 new cases and four new deaths reported this week.

Last week the region’s malaria cases stood at 11 122 cases with nine deaths.

Regional health director Woita Kapumburu on Wednesday told The Namibian the malaria cases in the region are now at 13 480.

“Malaria deaths since the outbreak are now at 13,” he said.

Kapumburu noted that the region has sufficient antimalarial medicines, as they have received over 16 000 units.

He added that they have also received two doctors who will be joining the emergency response team, and they will also do capacity training.

“We also received 12 students from the Namibia University of Science and Technology that will be going around the communities giving health education and general information on malaria. We have seen an increase in malaria cases among school pupils; we will use them also to visit schools, especially in the identified hot spot areas,” he said.

He then urged communities to allow indoor residual spraying teams to spray and larvicide ponds that are around their homesteads, seek medical attention immediately when experiencing malaria symptoms, sleep under treated mosquito nets, and eliminate mosquito breeding sites by removing stagnant water around homes and communities.