South Africa - Grand Priory continues its Malaria Vaccinations (October 2018)
As the northern parts of South Africa head into their rainy summer season, visitors to areas where malaria is endemic are warned to pay the necessary attention to protecting themselves from the dangerous mosquito-borne illness.
There have been a number of cases reported from areas where it was previously thought to have been eliminated, such as the Waterberg District in the north-east of Limpopo province.
The rainy summer season in the northern parts of South Africa is associated with an increase in the numbers of malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito and a considerably enhanced risk of contracting the illness within the endemic areas of southern Africa. The risk is highest between September through to the following May, which is considered to be 'malaria season' in South Africa.
Malaria infection can result in serious, complications, particularly if it is not identified and treated at an early stage. Travellers need to do their homework before visiting areas where malaria may be present. Make sure you know where these areas are and understand what kinds of precautions may be necessary ahead of your trip.
Malaria poses a risk in the northern parts of Limpopo province, eastern Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal as well as in parts of neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The Grand Priory of South Africa, headed by the Grand Officer of the Supreme Grand Priory, the Chevalier Steven Groeneveld GCLJ GCMLJ, continued its free malaria vaccinations to the poor populations of the areas. This is a service which the South African Grand Priory has been giving out on a voluntary basis since 1996, and is indeed a remarkable achievement in itself.