Increase in malaria cases in Guyana: About 30 people are diagnosed every week

During the last week of December 2023, 30 cases of malaria (also known as malaria) were reported in Guyana. Many were recorded for the first week of January 2024, That is about sixty cases in just two weeks.

During the last year (2023), 342 cases of malaria were diagnosed in Guyana. A clear increase was seen in November and December. 67% of cases were reported annually during this short period

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For comparison, Guyana reported 51 cases of malaria in 2022.

Many epidemics have been seen in this area. Head of Health Monitoring at ARS, Professor Frankie Mubenga, emphasized that it is important to distinguish between the place of contamination and the patient’s place of residence. The estimated location of contamination is particularly important. According to data collected at the end of the year, the observed outbreaks were:

• Saint-Georges de l’Oyapoque
• Regina
• Raura, especially in Kako village
• Matori (especially in Stupan and in the village of Sainte-Rose de Lima)
• Montcineri
• Macuria

“Every time there have been cases, especially outbreaks, control measures have been deployed. Some actions are scheduled for early 2024“, announced the professor.

Frankie Mubenga reminds us of the steps to adopt:

Protect yourself well from mosquitoes by using repellents, mosquito nets, wearing long clothes and avoiding standing water. When you are sick and are told to protect yourself from mosquitoes, do so because you are protecting yourself and your loved ones.

Indeed, “The mosquito, as it moves around, bites a sick person, in the infectious stage, and bites other people who are healthy and continues to contaminate others.“, explains the professor.

The Guyana Regional Health Agency is currently reviewing the risk mapping with stakeholders in the field. The last update is from October 2023 and the high risks were mainly located in the interior of the region.