Malaria Outbreak: Almost 3,000 People Have Died In Angola During 1st Quarter Of 2016

The malaria outbreak continues to wreak havoc in Angola. Malaria deaths in Angola for 2016 seems to be on pace to outstrip the malaria death rate in Angola from previous years.

In the first quarter of 2016, there have already been 2,915 recorded malaria deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) told Reuters via Medical Daily. The recorder number of malaria deaths in 2015 is 8,000 and 5,500 for 2014.

"This new malaria outbreak has devastated the entire country, even in provinces that have low endemic prevalence we are seeing the spread and surge in cases," WHO's Angola representative Hernando Agudelo Ospina stated. He added that the reason for the malaria outbreak and the increase in yellow fever and chronic diarrhea cases in Angola are due to the large amounts of uncollected garbage in Luanda.

Data shows that the yellow fever outbreak has already killed 225 people in Angola. Another 21 people have been killed by yellow fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The symptoms of malaria include high fever, chills, excessive sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, anemia and diarrhea. Malaria can also lead to convulsions, coma, muscle pain and bloody stool, according to Healthline.

The acute phase symptoms of yellow fever include fever, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, dizziness, sensitivity to light and redness of eyes, face or tongue, according to Mayo Clinic. The toxic phase symptoms of yellow fever include jaundice, abdominal pain, vomiting, decreased urination, nose bleeding, bradycardia, liver failure, kidney failure, delirium, seizure and coma.

People who live in areas affected by the malaria outbreak should follow some important preventive measures. These include proper application of insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and long pants, sleeping under a mosquito net and proper intake of malaria prevention tablets, NHS Choices shares.