MUSCAT: ‘Malaria Awareness Week’ is being observed uptil April 23 in the Sultanate of Oman. Indigenous malaria has been eradicated totally by the ceaseless efforts of the Malaria Eradication Department of the Ministry of Health.
About 18 years ago malaria was rampant in the local Omani population, where as at present the only recorded cases are imported, which are treated promptly to bring the disease under control. Saif Salim Saif Al Jabery, Regional Incharge, Malaria Eradication Dept. who heads the programme in the North Batinah region, says that the government is making efforts to educate and bring awareness to the community about the importance of malaria and the need to be free of this disease with proper preventive measures.
Malaria is an infection of red blood cells. It is caused by a microscopic parasite called Plasmodium. This parasite is spread in the community by the bite of female anopheles mosquito. Symptoms of this disease are intermittent fever, chills, body ache etc. If not treated in time, this disease can be fatal. At present the new generation is not immune to malaria as the transmission of this disease has not occurred since 1993.
Hence, they are more prone to this disease. If any symptoms of fever is detected after travelling outside Oman, it is advised to approach nearest health institution for blood tests.