Johannesburg | Tuesday
ALL visitors to South Africa’s malaria areas, including the Kruger National Park, should take anti-malarial tablets, Netcare Travel clinics advised on Monday.
This follows requests from individuals in the tourism sector for this recommendation to be dropped as it “scares off” tourists.
But Dr Andrew Jamieson, medical director of Netcare Travel Clinics said: “Advising against malaria prophylaxis is not responsible and may be dangerous. The best way to scare off tourists is to let them find out the hard way about malaria.”
He said many travellers who contracted malaria in southern African nature and game reserves only fell ill on return to their home countries and their deaths were not reflected in official South African figures.
“Netcare Travel Clinics have documented evidence of this occurring, and it is senseless to pretend otherwise.”
Jamieson added that official malaria statistics in all countries understated the true incidence and risk of the disease.
He said the majority of tour operators and lodge owners were responsible about alerting their guests to the risks of malaria, and that it was only a small minority within the industry who deliberately disregarded the risks.
“As malaria definitely occurs, and is definitely a risk, the official Netcare Travel Clinics policy will remain to recommend prophylaxis with anti-malaria tablets for travellers staying overnight in the Kruger National Park and similar areas, despite pressure from certain airlines and public officials to the contrary.” – AFP