Malaria Deaths in Mozambique Increase 15% From 2005 to 2006
Malaria deaths in Mozambique increased 15% from 2005 to 2006, despite increased efforts to combat the disease through indoor insecticide spraying using the pesticide DDT, Ministry of Health spokesperson Martinhio Djedje said recently, the SAPA/Mail and Guardian reports. According to Djedje, a total of 6,227,719 malaria cases were reported through the country's public health centers in 2006, compared with 5,896,411 in 2005. Of the reported cases, 4,985 died in 2006, compared with 4,209 in 2005 (SAPA/Mail and Guardian, 2/28). DDT currently is being sprayed in the provinces of Gaza, Inhambane, Maputo and Zambezia (Apunyu, SomaliNet, 2/28).
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