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Malaria Outbreak Indegenous Knowledge Indicators

Ants gathering food
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Dirty water in small pools
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Flooding
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Flooded Streans
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Floods
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Rotten Mangoes
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detailed

Indigenous Indicators of Malaria Outbreaks

Summer (Nov-Feb) Autumn (March-April) Winter (May-July) Spring (Aug-October)
Astronomical & meteorological
  • High temperatures during summer along with heavy rains are followed by malaria outbreaks.
  • When the moon is tilted, it means there will be a lot of rain and malaria.
  • The sight of the moon and the sun surrounded by a lot of clouds indicates floods/heavy rain and malaria can be expected.
  • The sight of stars clustered not in the middle of the sky but along the horizon indicates long soft rains that will be followed by malaria.
  • When the moon is surrounded by a ring of stars, it is an indication of upcoming rain and malaria season. The bigger the ring, the higher the incidences of malaria can be expected.
  • If it rains a lot in autumn, malaria can be expected.
  • If it rains in August and September, it indicates there will be plenty of rain and malaria in summer.
Behaviours of Birds
  • The sight of many birds around indicates rainy and malaria seasons.
  • The sight of many swallows flying around means the onset of rain and malaria season is imminent.
  • The sight of birds that are not usually seen means little rain and less malaria in summer.
  • The sight of many birds around indicates rainy and malaria seasons.
Behaviours of Trees/Plants
  • Black sports on mangos aremalaria forecast.
  • When there are too many mangos, guavas, jackal berries and marula fruit falling from the trees, malaria can be expected.
  • Tree leaves when they lose their green colour – drought can beexpected.
  • When fig trees (“Muhuyu”) do not shed their old leaves, it indicates little rain and less malaria.
  • Many flowers on the mango trees are an indication of upcoming malaria.
  • When the Quinine Tree (Rauvolfia caffra Sond) “Munadzi” tree drips, malaria can be expected.
  • When “mofafa grass” has many ticks, it is an indication of the start of rain and malaria season.
  • When mango trees have more flowers, and they are followed by rains and wind, there will be more malaria incidences.
Insect behaviour
  • When ants gather food and store it underground, it signifies the imminence of the rain and malaria season.
  • Visibility of butterflies, crows, and millipedes indicates that rain is forecast and malaria can be expected.
  • When ants gather food and store it underground, it signifies the imminence of the rain and malaria.
  • The sight of little or no insects, especially locusts, indicates that the upcoming spring and summer will have a lot of rain and malaria.
  • When ants gather food and store it underground, it signifies the upcoming rain season and indicates the imminence of the malaria season.
Animal behaviour
  • The sight of many sardines in dams in summer indicates good rains and that malaria can be expected.
  • The hearing of frogs croaking is an indication of a rainy summer season and more malaria incidences.
  • Frequent sight of cattle running with tails raised is a sign they are happy for the upcoming rain season, and malaria incidences can be expected too.
  • Frequent sight of cattle running with tails raised is a sign they are happy for the upcoming rain season, and malaria incidences can be expected too.
  • A lot of Cattle Egrets around cattle indicate rainy seasons and a lot of malaria incidences.
Myth,Religious Beliefs & others
  • After a period of 5–7 years, there is a lot of rainfall and malaria. After another period of 5–7 years, we experience drought and fewer malaria incidences.
  • When heavy rains in summer stop and water on the ground recedes, forming small pools of water, a malaria outbreak can be expected.
Knowledge of Season
  • In summer, there is usually malaria.
  • A lot of rain or water on land is followed by malaria.
  • It always rains extremely in summer with high temperatures, followed by malaria.
  • Malaria usually occurs in autumn.
  • If there is no rain in spring, there will be drought and fewer or no malaria incidents in summer can be expected.
  • Rains in August and September indicate that there will be a lot of rain in summer and malaria can be expected.

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