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MALARIA IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK: WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
Is there malaria in Kruger National Park? This is a question that’s frequently asked when people are planning a safari tour of Kruger Park and it’s an important question to address.
Yes, Kruger Park is located in a malaria area.
The governing body of Kruger Park, South African National Parks (SANParks), states on their website that “the risk of malaria in Kruger Park is usually low, even in the summer months.” However, an side note added states the following:
Please note:
As of late September 2017, we [SANParks] have noticed an increase in the amount of malaria diagnoses in Kruger National Park. We therefore advise all travellers to cover themselves by taking chemoprophylaxis whilst visiting the Park. Your family physician will be able to advise you on the most suitable medication. – SANParks official website
Don’t take the risk
Malaria is a life-threatening illness if not diagnosed and treated early. Malaria symptoms in general are horrible and often a sick person requires hospitalisation. In extreme cases, malaria can result in death.
It’s our recommendation that all visitors to Kruger Park take the risk of contracting malaria seriously, regardless of which section of the Park they are visiting.
Source: Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
What is malaria?
Malaria is a tropical disease caused by a parasite that infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. It is the female Anopheles mosquito that is the host of the parasite and responsible for transmitting the disease to humans when she takes blood meals for egg production.
Malaria is a deadly disease but it can easily be prevented. If diagnosed early, the treatment is effective and people recover without long-term side-affects. A severe strain known as Cerebral malaria has a 20 percent mortality rate even if treated.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
People who get a mild to moderate case of malaria experience flu-like symptoms:
- high fevers
- shaking chills
- sweating
- headaches
- body aches
- tiredness
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- anemia
- jaundice
If not treated early, malaria can result in the following severe symptoms which can be fatal:
- kidney failure
- seizures
- mental confusion
- coma
Malaria symptoms occur from 7 days to 4 weeks after infection. In some cases, the parasite can remain dormant in the liver for several months and people show symptoms anything from 1 to 4 years after being bitten and infected by the disease.
People who have travelled to a malaria area are told to take any flu-like symptoms seriously and assume that it is malaria. Seek IMMEDIATE medical assistance because malaria can very quickly become severe and life-threatening.
Malaria is diagnosed through a blood test. Your blood is examined under a microscope to check for the presence of malaria parasites.
How is malaria transmitted to humans?
People who get malaria have been bitten by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The female carrier passes it from one person to the next when it has taken a blood meal from an infected person.
When an Anopheles mosquito bites a person already infected with malaria, a small amount of the blood is taken in which contains microscopic malaria parasites. When the mosquito takes its next blood meal, these parasites mix with the mosquito’s saliva and are injected into the next person it bites.
The malaria parasite is found in red blood cells so there are other ways malaria can be transmitted:
- blood transfusion
- organ transplant
- shared use of needles and syringes contaminated with blood
- mother to unborn baby before or during delivery
Malaria is not a contagious disease. It can’t be spread from person to person like the flu or cold (and now Covid-19). It cannot be sexually transmitted either.
Where does malaria occur?
Plasmodium falciparum is the parasite that causes malaria and it’s commonly found in countries in Africa that lie south of the Sahara Desert. The highest death rate from malaria occurs in poor countries that don’t have access to lifesaving healthcare and don’t have access to anti-malaria prophylactics and the medicine needed to treat malaria.
Malaria is more common in warmer tropical and sub-tropical regions. This is because the higher temperatures allow the Anopheles mosquito to thrive. The malaria parasites in the carrier mosquito need warmth to complete their growth cycle before they are mature enough to infect humans.
People are often encouraged to go on an African safari tour in the winter months because the risk of malaria is lower. This is true but there are still many cases of malaria recorded in the winter months. Regardless of the time of year, visitors on a Kruger safari holiday should take anti-malaria tablets and take the same precautions to prevent being bitten.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes which areas in southern Africa have malaria:
Malaria in South Africa
- along the border with Zimbabwe and Mozambique; specifically in Mopani, Vhembe and Waterberg district municipalities of Limpopo Province
- Ehlanzeni district municipality in Mpumalanga Province
- Umknanyakude in Kwazulu-Natal Province
- Kruger National Park
Malaria in Botswana
- Botete
- Chobe (including Chobe National Park)
- Ngami
- Okavango Delta
- Tuteme
- Bobirwa
- Francistown
- Ghanzi
- Mahalapaye
- Serowe Palapye
- rare cases in the districts of Kgalagadi North, Keneng West and Southern districts
- none in the city of Gaborone.
Malaria in Zambia
- all districts
Malaria in Zimbabwe
- all districts
Malaria in Namibia
- Kavango (East and West)
- Kunene
- Ohangwena
- Omusati
- Oshana
- Oshikoto
- Otjozunjupa
- Zambezi
- rare cases in other parts of the country
- no malaria in city of Windhoek
When is the risk of malaria in Kruger Park higher?
The risk of malaria in Kruger Park is higher in the summer months between October to February. This is the rainy season and there is more stagnant water around and damp, moist areas which mosquitoes love. The summer temperatures are high risk because the malaria parasite thrives in warm weather.
Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn. This means from sunset to sunrise, you risk being bitten by a female Anopheles mosquito. They avoid daylight because sun exposure can dehydrate and kill them. During the day, mosquitoes seek out cool, damp places. This is often stagnant pools of water found in the bushveld in the rainy season.
However, many people have been infected by carrier mosquitoes during the day and in the winter months. There’s no guarantee that you are safe from malaria mosquitoes in summer and the daytime so take the recommended precautions regardless of time of day and year.
6 ways to avoid contracting malaria?
There are 6 things you can do to avoid contracting malaria on an African safari holiday:
- Take anti-malaria medication prescribed by a doctor; it kills the parasite and prevents you from becoming ill.
- Sleep under a mosquito net, preferably one that is treated with a pyrethroid insecticide.
- Keep the ceiling fan or air-conditioner on to keep mosquitoes off you; wind is an effective method to prevent being bitten because it prevents mosquitoes from circling and landing on you.
- Use insect repellent throughout the day on bare parts of your body, but especially apply at sunset (use insect spray with caution to avoid breathing in the fumes).
- Spray your clothes, room and vehicle with insect repellent, use plug-in insect repellents in bedrooms.
- Change into a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and socks and shoes before the sun goes down
What is the best anti-malaria tablet for Kruger National Park?
It is highly recommended you consult a doctor or visit a travel clinic who has knowledge of malaria prevention drugs before leaving for your Kruger Park safari holiday.
You need to get advise and buy the anti-malaria medication in advance because certain malaria drugs have to be taken at least one week before departure.
Remember, no anti-malaria drug is 100 percent effective and some have become malaria-resistant. Take extra precautions to prevent being bitten.
Take the anti-malaria tablets exactly as prescribed, and continue to take the prescribed dosage after you have left Kruger Park or any other malaria area.
DISCLAIMER: The information below is for interest only but does not replace the advise of a medical practitioner.
- Malarone
Currently the most popular and widely regarded as effective. It presents with virtually no side effects. Also available in a children’s formulation, including a chewable once-daily tablet. Licensed in the UK and USA.
- Chloroquine, Proguanil and Maloprim
These drugs are not as popular as they used to be, largely because in certain part of Africa (north of South Africa) the parasite has become Chloroquine resistant.
- Mefloquine (Larium)
This is an effective malaria prophylactic but it has been known to cause psychiatric disturbances and other unpleasant side effects. Doctors need to dispense Mefloquine with caution.
- Doxycycline
Doxycycline is an antibiotic and a suitable alternative for people who can’t take other anti-malaria medication. However, it makes people particularly sensitive to the sun and the effect of the antibiotic on reducing the efficacy of contraception tablets is well documented.
How is malaria treated in South Africa?
A life-saving tip is to get to a hospital or doctor as soon as possible if you suspect you may have malaria. The sooner you are diagnosed and treated, the better. Malaria develops quickly and a person can go from feeling unwell with flu symptoms to extremely unwell in a matter of days.
A simple blood test is used to diagnose malaria. The results are usually available within a few hours to 24-hours.
If you are diagnosed with malaria, you’ll be given a prescription anti-malaria drug. You’ll either be treated as an outpatient or admitted to hospital if your symptoms are more advanced. Under NO circumstances must you self-medicate – if you are within reach of a hospital or laboratory – as the malaria disease can be fatal if not treated early and effectively.
The anti-malaria drug used and the length of treatment depends on the type of malaria you have, where you were infected, your age, whether you are pregnant and how advanced the symptoms are.
For mild to moderate cases and when the right anti-malaria drugs are taken, all the parasites should be eradicated from your body and you should experience 100 percent recovery with few long-term side-effects.
Is it safe for young children to visit Kruger Park with malaria?
Many South Africans take young children to the Kruger Park, particularly in the school holidays. However, we strongly recommend that if you have a child who is younger than 5 years or underweight, it’s best to delay visiting Kruger Park until they’re old enough to take anti-malaria tablets and tolerate medical treatment for malaria if they get sick.
The same applies to pregnant women. It’s not safe to take malaria tablets when pregnant and the prescription drug needed to treat malaria could be seriously dangerous for your health and the health of your unborn baby.
Rather book a Big 5 safari tour of game reserves located in malaria-free regions in South Africa. The most popular are Pilanesberg Game Reserve and Madikwe Game Reserve which are relatively close to Johannesburg. There are also a number of popular game reserves in the Western Cape for safari tours, including Addo Elephant National Park in the Garden Route.
There is no malaria in Cape Town and the Garden Route and while the game reserves aren’t as big as Kruger Park, you’ll see the Big 5 and have a wonderful safari experience.
Can children take anti-malaria tablets for a Kruger Park holiday?
Medical recommendations state that children can take anti-malaria tablets if they weigh over 5 kilograms. The Travel Doctor provides the following information on the different malaria prophylactics on the market:
- Mefloquine can be given from 5kg
- Malanil can be given from 11kg
- Doxycycline should preferably only be given from 8 years
The biggest problem with travelling to malaria areas with young children is, if they do get sick with malaria, they cannot always tell you they’re sick and precious time is wasted before you realise the child is indeed ill and in need of urgent medical treatment. Young sick children tend to deteriorate rapidly which is why malaria can be fatal in very young and underweight children.
The other issue with malaria and children is the treatment for malaria is often worse than the disease itself. The medication to treat malaria is highly toxic and it’s not a position you want to put young children in for the sake of a short safari holiday in Kruger Park.
Rather book accommodation in Pilanesberg Game Reserve or any of the popular Cape safari lodges that are located in malaria-free regions in South Africa.
DISCLAIMER:
This information on malaria in Kruger Park is only provided as a guidance for people planning to visit Kruger Park. It does not replace the advice of a medical professional. Always speak to a doctor or professional travel clinic for advice and prescriptions for anti-malaria tablets for the whole family.
Sources for more information on malaria in Kruger National Park
MMV Medicines for Malaria Venture
Can you travel to Kruger Park if you are pregnant?
Travelling to Kruger Park when your are pregnant is not recommended. Malaria in pregnant women can be more severe and often fatal, compared to women who are not pregnant. Malaria can also increase the risk of serious complications during the pregnancy, including premature births, miscarriages and stillbirths.
Pregnant women can take an effective chemoprophylaxis regimen but this needs to be done in consultation with a medical professional. The risk of complications causes by malaria is just too high in our opinion and we recommend safer options for a South African safari tour.
As mentioned, Pilanesberg and Madikwe close to Johannesburg are located in malaria-free areas as well as safari destinations in the Cape.
DISCLAIMER:
This information on malaria in Kruger Park is only provided as a guidance for people planning to visit Kruger Park. It does not replace the advice of a medical professional. Always speak to a doctor or professional travel clinic for advice and prescriptions for anti-malaria tablets for the whole family.
Is there a vaccination for malaria?
Currently, there is no commercially-available, licensed vaccine for malaria in Africa.
A closely-monitored vaccination programme is underway in Malawi, Ghana and Kenya. Reports indicate concerns over efficacy and worrying safety issues.
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