Malawian health authorities are currently administering preventive medication to people in eight districts of the country that are at high risk of being infected by lymphatic diseases. Principal Secretary in the Ministry, Chris Kang’ombe, told state radio that the symptoms of the disease include inflammation of limbs and private parts, adding that the disease was caused by mosquitoes. He, however, stressed that “there was no outbreak”. “We are not dealing with a strange disease,” he said. Kang’ombe said one of the diseases is called Lymphatic Filariasis which is transmitted by a certain kind of mosquito. “A sufferer will experience inflammation of some limbs or private parts,” he said. Kang’ombe said currently health experts were in eight districts, including Blantyre, monitoring the disease. “We are doing a sort of preventive measure where we feel that people are at risk ,” he said. Kang’ombe said the other condition is called Onchocerciasis which is transmitted through black flies and its symptoms include itches and rashes on the skin.
