{"id":858573,"date":"2026-05-02T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=858573"},"modified":"2026-04-30T17:44:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T15:44:07","slug":"warning-to-gauteng-residents-travelling-to-other-provinces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/858573\/warning-to-gauteng-residents-travelling-to-other-provinces\/","title":{"rendered":"Warning issued to Gauteng residents travelling to other provinces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Officials are warning Gauteng residents to be cautious amid a surge in malaria cases, with 414 cases and 11 deaths recorded by the Gauteng Department of Health from January to March 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local transmission of malaria in Gauteng is still rare, but most cases are linked to travel to malaria-endemic regions, such as certain areas in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, or neighbouring countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health officials said symptoms can appear days or even weeks after returning home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In rare cases, malaria can be contracted without travel when infected mosquitoes are accidentally transported into non-endemic areas via vehicles or aircraft, a situation referred to as “odyssean malaria.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The problem is that malaria is often not immediately suspected in urban settings, meaning symptoms are mistaken for a routine viral illness,” said Bonitas Medical Fund Clinical Executive Themba Hadebe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And because malaria is not something many Gauteng residents expect to encounter, early symptoms can easily be dismissed. Delay in recognising the illness and seeking care is where the real danger lies,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaria is often misunderstood. Unlike many infectious diseases, it is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person through casual contact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infection occurs only when a person is bitten by an infected Anopheles mosquito carrying the malaria parasite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If someone develops flu-like symptoms and there has been any possible exposure, even weeks earlier, malaria should be considered and tested for,” said Hadebe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that testing is quick and accessible to citizens, and early diagnosis can significantly improve the outcome. Malaria often begins with mild symptoms, but it can escalate rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warning signs that indicate a need for urgent medical attention include confusion, difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting, seizures, jaundice, extreme weakness, or reduced consciousness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These symptoms may suggest severe malaria, a life-threatening complication that requires immediate treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experts advise that if malaria is suspected, medical care should be sought immediately. Blood tests or rapid diagnostic tests can confirm the infection, enabling prompt treatment to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaying care to see if symptoms improve or attempting to self-medicate may allow the disease to progress rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to protect yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to the Department of Health, malaria leads to over 445,000 deaths worldwide each year, primarily affecting pregnant women and children under the age of five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To effectively prevent malaria, it is important to follow these prevention tips, as malaria is treatable if caught early and if the prescribed treatment is followed thoroughly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department advises wearing long-sleeved clothing and socks when outdoors after sunset to avoid mosquito bites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, eliminating stagnant water can help prevent mosquito breeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When travelling to known malaria risk areas, both within and outside of South Africa, it’s crucial to take precautions against mosquito bites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before heading to a malaria-prone area, the Department suggests consulting your local clinic or doctor to obtain malaria prevention medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both travellers and residents in malaria-endemic regions face a risk of contracting malaria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department emphasises the need to practise protective measures year-round, even in regions with low malaria transmission rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaria symptoms can appear as soon as seven days following a bite from an infected mosquito, with the incubation period typically ranging from 7 to 21 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neglecting to complete treatment may result in severe malaria, leading to relapse or complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you visit a clinic or healthcare facility, be sure to inform them that you have recently travelled to an area where malaria is prevalent.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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Officials are warning Gauteng residents to be cautious travelling to certain areas such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga, or neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":858685,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9876],"tags":[10831,20770,25296],"class_list":["post-858573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-bonitas-medical-fund","tag-gauteng-department-of-health","tag-malaria"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=858573"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":858948,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858573\/revisions\/858948"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/858685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=858573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=858573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=858573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}