Provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi confirmed that no new cases have been detected beyond the three members of one family initially affected.
A 23-year-old man has now been discharged from Mediclinic Bloemfontein and traveled home to Potchefstroom, while a 50-year-old woman – whose husband, aged 53, succumbed to the disease – remains in a stable condition in a general ward.
“The source of the infection in this non-endemic area remains unknown. Provincial and national experts are conducting investigations to determine the source and provide a plausible scientific explanation,” Mvambi said.
A multi-disciplinary outbreak response team has been deployed in the area, providing community education, active screening and mosquito control measures to ensure no new cases go undetected.
In a next step to determine the origin of the infection, a team of entomologists from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) will visit Xhariep district from Tuesday to Friday to collect mosquito samples for testing.
The aim is to determine whether Anopheles mosquitoes, which transmit malaria, are present in the area.
Preliminary genotyping results suggest that the three family members may have been bitten by the same mosquito, although the precise route of transmission is still under investigation.
Mvambi urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, especially those who may have traveled to malaria-prone areas such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga or parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
“If you develop fever, chills, headache, body aches or flu-like symptoms after visiting a malaria area, seek immediate medical attention.”
The department also urged residents to protect themselves by using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves at night and removing standing water near homes.
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