Overview
- The provincial health department reported 768 malaria cases and 17 deaths from January to September 2026, a 38.6% increase in cases versus the same period in 2025.
- Investigations found 15 of the 17 fatalities had recent travel to SADC countries and about 59% of deaths were associated with travel to Mozambique.
- Authorities are classifying cases as imported or odyssean, auditing malaria deaths, and using environmental health practitioners to trace likely sources and monitor cases daily.
- Officials urged travellers to use travel clinics in Gauteng’s five health districts, watch for fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, nausea or vomiting, and tell clinicians about recent travel.
- The department is intensifying awareness campaigns and outreach at taxi ranks and bus stations before the festive season and training health workers so cases are diagnosed and treated quickly.