The Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday said it was expecting further increases in the number of confirmed cases of malaria, even as the figure climbed to 58.

According to a press release issued by the MOH late yesterday evening, the number of confirmed cases is expected to rise in the face of intensified fever surveillance activities.

“The Ministry of Health expects a possible increase in the number of cases identified, as house-to-house fever surveillance activities intensifies,” the release stated.

“To date, the Ministry of Health has recorded 58 confirmed malaria cases. Approximately half of this number has been treated and discharged from hospital. The other cases remain in hospital and are being treated successfully,” the ministry said.

Health Minister Horace Dally on Friday had predicted increases in the number of confirmed cases, saying that the incubation period for the disease, which is between seven

and 14 days, had not yet expired.

In an effort to further kerb the spread of the disease, the MOH has deployed eight additional fever surveillance teams to the communities which have reported cases of malaria. In addition, eight extra vector control teams, comprising six to eight health professionals each, have been dispatched to conduct further mosquito control activities over this weekend.