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Up north at the Pafuri Picnic Spot there is a bench overlooking the Levuvuh river. On the bench is a little memorial plate for a lady named Heather Zietsman. I don't know the full details but from what I could gather she passed away after contracting malaria. A grim reminder to all who visits Pafuri.

Do you know of someone who have fallen victim to this decease after contracting it in Kruger?

I personally know of quite few people who have picked up malaria in Kruger but who were fortunate to live to tell the tale.

Hi WTM, today is World Malaria day and heard earlier on the radio that in SA the number of fatalities have dropped from 30000 per annum 10 years ago to about a 1000 now.

Don't know anybody who died from the disease after picking it up in KNP.

Did she actually contracted malaria at Pafuri or was the memorial bench as so many others just placed in one of her most favourite spots in Kruger?

Ones risk of contracting malaria inside of Kruger is much lower than contracting it in any of the directly bordering towns. One has to remember that the "malaria risk" of an area is based on the number of confirmed cases in a area that may span many towns and not necessary a geographical area such as for example Kruger NP.

Below a link to an scientific article titled "Risk of malaria in visitors to the Kruger National Park, South Africa"

This is a 1996 study performed in April which historically is the month with the greatest number of reported malaria cases in South Africa. 1996 according to the article was also the time of the most extensive malaria outbreak in the area in 10 years (average 70% more cases than the 2 preceding years). Having done questionnaire surveys for scientific articles before the response rate in this survey was very good and even above the norm.

The article presents some interesting findings such as:
1) 4.5 out of 10 000 visitors contracted malaria (one unconfirmed case included) = 0.05%

2) Of these:
2.1) 3 stayed in bungalows and 2 in campsite (not statistically significant)
2.2) 3 used prophylaxis and 2 did not (not statistically significant)
2.3) 2 visited other high risk malaria areas before or after Kruger (1 Mozambique, 1 Comoros)

3) Additional preventative measures did not statistical significantly reduced the attack rate

One can also contract malaria in a malaria free area as the February 2012 outbreak in the Tshwane district proves. If you have an infected human and female Anopheles mosquito in the same area there will always be a risk of malaria transmission.

Does all this mean you do not need to be vigilant? Definitely no, but be aware you may run a greater risk of contacting malaria while buying bread in White River that in a rest camp in Kruger due to the greater concentration of possible infected human host in town than in Kruger.

Interesting view, Francois, and certainly food for thought. I have been through various phases taking and not taking the various medications that are available, and am now of the opinion that it is better (for us as a family) to avoid the medication and to keep aware of ALL health issues for quite some time after leaving the malaria areas. Having said that, we ALWAYS cover ourselves in the early morning and in the evenings with appropriate clothing (long trousers, sleeves, socks and closed shoes) and use a healthy dose of tabard on any exposed areas......

There are many views, both for and against taking anti-malaria medication, some of which include complaints of the side-effects of such medication to some people; the fact that IF you forget to take the medication exactly as per the instructions, you may as well not take it at all, and a whole host of other issues, such as the medication masking the onset of the disease.

It should be noted that taking anti-malaria does not GUARANTEE protection from the disease, but it may reduce the likelihood of catching it.....

As a side comment, a physician friend of mine says he prefers his patients to take malaria medication as without taking it, he knows exactly what to put on the death certificate....

I know many, many people that have had the disease, acquired in various parts of Africa, one of whom passed away within 72 hours of getting into a malaria area..... be aware that this is NOT a pleasant disease with which to deal, and is NOT NECESSARILY SLOW in its devastating effect.

I have been reading Harry wolhuter's, "Memories of a Game Ranger", again.

He talks of a time when people did not know about the mozzie threat. It was a time when Maleria was the, "silent demon in the night". Maleria was endemic and struck when it wanted.

Lydenburg, place of mourning, is a testament to maleria. It killed, and killed with no regard for anyone.

Times have changed.

I am not dismissive of maleria, I recognise the danger. Bruce Brydon, many years a game ranger, ended up being killed by maleria.

However, we know more, we can do more. We do no longer need to be ruled by fear. We can do something.

And as the research article I posted a link for states those people mentioned by MM ran I much higher risk that a tourist of contracting malaria in Kruger as they were resident. The same with residents of the neighboring towns. The longer time you spend in an area the greater the risk.

Franscoisd,

I do think that we have to be aware of the control we have. We also need to take resposibility.

I am not the best example of anti-malerial medication. It does not agree with me and would ruin my few days of "Kruger joy". On one brand I get paranoid, and on another brand, I simply vomit.

However, after my last trip, even though I was 95% sure I had flu, I presented myself to be tested for maleria. We can take control.