Malaria Outbreak in Botswana’s North West District Highlights Spraying Resistance
A malaria outbreak in Botswana’s North West District (NWD) has resulted in 38 confirmed cases and one fatality between November 2025 and January 2026, health authorities report. The outbreak has affected nine villages, with Botshabelo and Moeti wards in Maun identified as hotspots during the current peak transmission season.
Dr. Sandra Maripe-Ebutswe, Deputy Council Secretary for Primary Health at the North West District Council (NWDC), confirmed the cases and emphasized the seriousness of the situation. A significant challenge to containment efforts is community resistance to indoor residual spraying (IRS), a primary prevention method. Between October and December 2025, 964 households refused IRS operations, which involve spraying interior walls with insecticide to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Operational hurdles further complicate the response. Spraying teams found 2,590 residents absent during visits and 1,013 houses locked and inaccessible, delaying protective measures. Dr. Maripe-Ebutswe stressed that IRS provides community-wide protection and that refusal undermines collective defense against the disease.
The district’s rural areas, particularly the ecologically sensitive Okavango Delta, are especially vulnerable. The Delta’s wetlands create ideal mosquito breeding conditions, a risk amplified by the current rainy season. To mitigate exposure, approximately 2,031 mosquito nets have been distributed to camps in the region. Additionally, medical teams, including nurses deployed by air, are providing support for early diagnosis and treatment in remote delta communities to prevent severe illness.
Health officials are urging residents to adopt comprehensive preventive measures. These include maintaining clean surroundings, eliminating stagnant water sources where mosquitoes breed, and consistent use of provided mosquito nets. With the outbreak active and one death already recorded, the NWDC warns that continued resistance to IRS could facilitate further spread, placing vulnerable groups like children and the elderly at heightened risk.
The council is appealing directly to communities to grant spraying teams access to homes, framing cooperation as a critical, non-negotiable line of defense to curb the outbreak and prevent additional fatalities.
