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Herald Correspondent —
AT LEAST six people succumbed to malaria countrywide last week, bringing the total number of fatalities so far this year to 231. This is a major decline from 462 deaths recorded last year.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Epidemic-Prone Diseases, Deaths and Public Health Events Report for the week ending December 18, six people died from malaria last week alone, while 2 802 cases were recorded.

“Of these 429 (15,3 percent) and one death was under the age of five years,” reads the report.

The deaths were reported from Manicaland Province, where two districts — Chimanimani and Mutare recorded one death each. In Masvingo Province, two deaths were recorded. Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare recorded two deaths.

The report cited Manicaland and Masvingo as having recorded the highest number of malaria cases. Manicaland had 1 910 cases and Masvingo 419. The cumulative cases of Malaria this year now stand at 221 220. Malaria is caused by the plasmodium parasite. The parasite can be spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

There are many different types of plasmodium parasite, but only five types cause malaria in humans.