S.African capital, usually malaria-free, records six cases

Six people have been diagnosed with malaria around Pretoria, even though the South African capital is normally free of the disease and none had travelled to risky regions, officials said Friday.

Three people caught malaria in the township of Soshanguve, and three others in an upmarket housing estate, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said in a statement.

Mosquitoes carrying malaria were most likely transported to Pretoria by holidaymakers returning home, with the bugs catching a ride in vehicles or containers, it said.

“Nevertheless, the possibility of a locally breeding malaria vector population causing local malaria transmission cannot be ruled out at this stage.”

Health workers were urged to remain vigilant and to check for malaria in people with high fevers, even if they have not travelled to high-risk areas.