Angola: Over 3 million malaria cases reported in 2018

Event

According to health officials in Angola, more than 3 million malaria cases were reported nationwide in 2018. However, reports indicate 7356 people died from the disease, a decrease of more than 53 percent over the number of deaths reported in 2017. The most affected regions include Cuanza Norte, Bengo, and Huambo.

Context

According to media reports, recent heavy rainfall, poor public sanitation, shortages of medicine, and state corruption have facilitated the spread of malaria in Angola and precluded an adequate government response to the outbreak. In 2017, approximately 4.5 million malaria cases, including 15,900 deaths were reported in the country.

Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, nausea, and body aches; early symptoms usually appear between seven and 15 days after the contaminating mosquito bite. There is no vaccine but preventive medications are available.

Advice

Individuals in Angola are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under mosquito-netting or in an air conditioned room - and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (small pockets of fresh water, such as rain water that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).