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heaps of uncollected garbage provide breeding spaces for the insects.
So make sure that your yard is clean and tidy to avoid catching malaria
Malaria is a disease that is spread by the female anopheles mosquito.
The infected person suffers from headaches, nausea and feels weak. A lack of appetite is also often experienced.
All these symptoms are caused by a protozoa organism called plasmodium.
It also causes blurred vision and dehydration.
Often the person affected by malaria will feel dizzy.
Another symptom indicating that a person might have malaria is randomly alternating body temperature.
One changes from experiencing a high fever to feeling chilled in a very short space of time.
In Zimbabwe malaria is treated through a combination of drugs which include Fansida. Although one may feel better soon after taking the first few tablets you have to complete the whole course or you will develop and even worse form of malaria which is difficult to treat.
If not treated on time malaria can be fatal. As soon as you experience the symptoms mentioned at the beginning, then go to a medical centre.
There is a test that doctors carry out to see if you have malaria as there are other diseases that can also cause the same symptoms.
There are a number of ways to control malaria.
These include eliminating all the favourable conditions for breeding. Use insecticides to spray stagnant pools and bury all empty metal tins.
There are also prevention methods like the use of mosquito nets or mosquito repellent soap.
There are areas in the country which are considered high danger malaria zones and these include the Lowveld and the Kariba Basin.
If you are planning to travel to these areas over the school break then you need to take prophylactic drugs so that when mosquitoes bite you your body is ready to fight malaria.
So do not let the mosquitoes bite you and keep yourself safe from malaria this rainy season.