The anticipated environmental changes of the Mupfure irrigation project will
lead to an increased number of malaria transmitting mosquitoes throughout
the year, except for June and July when temperatures are probably too low
for extensive breeding. The present malaria transmission period lasts from
December until May and is mainly limited by the availability of breeding
sites outside the rainy season and the low temperatures in June and July. The
increased mosquito breeding sites created by the project are likely to expand
the malaria transmission period by about two months, mainly October and
November. A further expansion of the malaria transmission period from May
to August will have marginal impact because the low temperatures
experienced in this period inhibit parasite development in the mosquito.
The villagers living close to the drains and the Goora Dam are likely to be
a group highly vulnerable to increased exposure to mosquito bites. Finally,
the extended human migration associated with the project would increase the
likelihood of chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium being introduced
into the project area.