As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) on-going effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to share and explore certain important healthcare issues. This article looks at the subject of malaria this SADC Malaria Week, 9 November 2012.
Malaria is a potentially fatal condition that is in most cases easily treatable when diagnosed in time. Malaria is a parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes and kills around 1 million people a year worldwide. It is important to know how to avoid getting infected and to be aware of the dangers when travelling or living in a malaria area.
Where is malaria found?
Malaria is found in tropical and subtropical countries. In South Africa it is prevalent in the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Limpopo province. It is also found in neighbouring countries such as Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.
When will you most likely contract the disease?
Although the spread of the disease is intensified during the rainy summer season in these areas, you can get infected all year round.
Is it preventable?
When planning a trip to a malaria area, it is advised to take preventative medication before, during and after your trip. Avoid being outside between dusk and dawn, as this is when mosquitoes are most active. Preferably remain in a screened or air-conditioned room and wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Make use of insect repellents and bed nets to ward off mosquitoes.
Symptoms to look out for
The symptoms of Malaria are similar to those of flu and it is suggested you consult your doctor when you experience any of the following symptoms while you are living or travelling in a high-risk malaria area:
The good news is that, in most cases, malaria is treatable if diagnosed in time. It is important to note that symptoms may only present themselves months after returning from your trip to a malaria area.
Factors that will increase your risk
If you are living in or travelling to an area in which malaria is present, failing to take preventative medication before, during and after travelling or taking it incorrectly can increase your risk of contracting the disease.
Who is at risk?
Pregnant women and children are at greater risk, so are people with health problems as their immune systems are compromised. Some people living in these areas build up partial resistance to the disease and do not get it in its severe form.
New developments
Earlier this year a new candidate drug was identified by a team led by Professor Kelly Chibale, the founder and director of the University of Cape Town's Drug Development and Discovery Centre also known as H3-D, working in collaboration with the non-profit Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).
The candidate drug, called MMV390048, has only been tested in rodents but the results are encouraging. It appears to be stable and safe, is effective against a variety of strains of the malaria parasite, and requires only a single dose to cure the animals of malaria. A single-dose cure would be ideal, because it would do away with the problem of people not finishing a course of treatment. If patients stop taking medication because they feel well again but before the parasite has been killed, it gives the parasite an opportunity to develop resistance to the drug. The drug stays in the body for a long time, preventing regrowth of the parasite, which means it has the potential to block transmission of the parasite from one person to another.
The drug has been selected by MMV's scientific advisory committee for further clinical research. The next step will be to test its safety in a small group of healthy human volunteers in a phase one clinical trial. According to Dr Leslie, head of medicinal chemistry and principal research officer at H3-D, the aim is to produce a drug that costs less than $1 a day, so that it will be affordable to Africans. Even if all goes well with the clinical research, a new drug could still be three to five years down the road. It is not clear at this stage whether the phase one trial will be carried out in South Africa, as there is unfortunately limited local capability to do this highly specialised work.
If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and well-being.
References
1. WebMd, www.webmd.com
2. ‘Malaria information', Malaria in South Africa, www.malaria.org.za
3. ‘Homegrown malaria drug could offer single-dose cure', Business Day, 29 August 2012
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