Health authorities in South Africa have warned that the country may face a new epidemic of malaria this year because of floods that have swamped the region following Cyclone Eline. Last year malaria killed 310 people in South Africa.
The Health Minister, Ms Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, said 42,000 cases of malaria were reported in the country between 1989 and 1999, making the outbreak of the disease the worst in the country in three decades.
Responding in parliament, she said the outbreaks occurred in three low-lying provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Northern Province.
The minister said heavy rains and high temperatures in these areas had made them an ideal breeding ground for malaria-spreading mosquitoes this year.
Northern Province and Mpumalanga have also been badly affected by the worst flooding in the region in 50 years.
Dr Andrew Jamieson, a doctor with expertise in tropical diseases, said large pools of stagnant water in the two provinces would provide yet more breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Dr Jamieson said he was expecting a major outbreak of disease very soon.
Sewerage water was flowing into rivers, putting villagers in the provinces at risk of cholera, typhoid, dysentery and viral diseases.
Mpumalanga health authorities said laboratory tests showed that water supply to 17 communities was heavily contaminated.