Concern over malaria cases in Limpopo

However, the provincial health department says they have the situation under control. 

Department spokesperson Derrick Kganyago says reports that 46 people are being treated for malaria in the Waterberg district, are untrue. 

"Yes, we do have a few cases of malaria that we are in control of. The number is not even 45. The number is not even important in this case," he says.

The department says it is collating information to establish whether there is an outbreak in the province. 

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Kganyago says teams have already been dispatched to spray poison along the Palala River, which is believed to be the source. 

"We have already started with the houses which are close to the river."

He says it's not unusual for cases of malaria to be reported in Limpopo. 

"We've had heavy rains coupled with hot and humid conditions, but it is the first time we've had so many cases in Waterberg."

There have been no malaria-related deaths reported in Limpopo.

This comes after a woman from Doornpoort, north of Pretoria, passed away from malaria on Thursday night.

Her family says she did not travel recently.

But the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) spokesperson Lucille Blumberg says there is no danger of a malaria outbreak in Pretoria.

She says five to six similar cases are reported every year.

"We do investigate them all just to make sure there isn't some local transmission, but in all cases we have followed up on, there has not been local transmission. It's likely that one or two mosquitos came in a suitcase, minibus or airplane."