| Visitors are advised that the Kruger National Park | | | | after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Fever |
| and adjoining areas fall within the malaria zone, | | | | in the first week of travel in a malaria-risk area is |
| and precautionary measures should be taken | | | | unlikely to be malaria; however, any fever should |
| when entering this region. Recent surveys have | | | | be promptly evaluated. |
| suggested that the chance of an average visitor | | | | If you come down with flu-like symptoms either |
| getting malaria is roughly 1 in 24,000. | | | | during, or within four to six weeks after, your |
| In South Africa you can only get anti-malaria | | | | visit to a malaria area, seek a doctor's advice |
| tablets from a doctor. | | | | immediately. |
| Safety measures for visitors: Most malaria cases | | | | Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a |
| occur in the wet season between October and | | | | deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever or |
| May, with the months February to May being the | | | | flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk |
| peak risk period. During these months visitors are | | | | area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), |
| advised to use anti-malarial medication. Minimize | | | | you should seek immediate medical attention and |
| the contact with mosquitoes by applying repellent | | | | should tell the physician your travel history. |
| substances such as Tabard or a number of other | | | | If you're traveling to a malaria area, you'll need to |
| products, burning mosquito coils or using vaporizing | | | | take the following precautions: |
| mats, and wearing socks and shoes during the | | | | Apply insect repellent to exposed skin - |
| evening. | | | | recommended repellents contain 20%-35% DEET |
| Malaria presents the most significant threat to | | | | or TABARD and there are a number of brands |
| travelers to many tropical countries. Take | | | | on the market. |
| anti-malaria tablets as instructed before, during | | | | Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants if you're |
| and after travel. The disease is transmitted by | | | | outdoors at night. |
| the bite of infected mosquitoes and can prove | | | | Use a mosquito net if your tent or room isn't |
| fatal. Travelers to malarias areas must be made | | | | screened or air-conditioned; and spray insecticide |
| aware of the risk and should take stringent | | | | or burn a mosquito coil before going to bed. |
| precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes. | | | | Take the malaria tablets recommended for the |
| These precautions should include the use of safe | | | | region you're traveling to, and keep taking them |
| and effective insect repellents on the skin, plug in | | | | until the course is complete. |
| insecticide vaporizers and mosquito nets | | | | Travel Clinics provide a comprehensive malaria |
| (preferably impregnated with a residual insecticide). | | | | avoidance program. You can contact them in |
| It is important that travelers to these areas take | | | | Johannesburg at +27 011 807 3132, and in Cape |
| the correct anti-malarial prophylactic tablets. | | | | Town at +27 021 419 3172. You can also visit [ |
| Expert advice should be sought as the tablets | | | | Southern African Malaria Risk by Country: |
| advised will vary from region to region. | | | | Botswana: Risk north of 21° latitude south in |
| Transmission and Symptoms: | | | | the northern districts of Central, Chobe, |
| Malaria is a serious disease that is transmitted to | | | | Ngamiland, North East, and Okavango. Lesotho: No |
| humans by the bite of an infected female | | | | risk. Namibia: Risk in the provinces of Kunene, |
| Anopheles mosquito. Symptoms may include | | | | Ohangwena, Okavango, Caprivi, Omaheke, |
| fever and flu-like illness, including chills, headache, | | | | Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, and Otjozondjupa. |
| muscle aches, and fatigue. Malaria may cause | | | | South Africa: Risk in the low altitude areas of the |
| anemia and jaundice. | | | | Mpumalanga Province, Northern Province, and |
| Plasmodium falciparum infections, if not | | | | northeastern KwaZulu-Natal as far south as the |
| immediately treated, may cause kidney failure, | | | | Tugela River. Risk in Kruger National Park. |
| coma, and death. Malaria can often be prevented | | | | Swaziland: Risk in all lowlands. Zimbabwe: Risk, |
| by using antimalarial drugs and by using personal | | | | except in no risk cities of Harare and Bulawayo. |
| protection measures to prevent mosquito bites. | | | | Malaria is a serious disease. Malaria occur in the |
| However, in spite of all protective measures, | | | | wet season between October and May so plan |
| travelers may still develop malaria. | | | | for it and take anti-malaria tablets. |
| Malaria symptoms will occur at least 7 to 9 days | | | | |