Gauteng records surge in Malaria cases and deaths

The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has recorded a concerning surge in Malaria infections and related deaths in the province.

The department’s surveillance data shows that 414 cases and 11 deaths were confirmed between January and March 2026, a sharp increase from the same period in 2025, which recorded 230 cases and just one death.

Health officials say the trend points to increased transmission and a heightened risk to residents.

The department’s Programme Manager for Communicable Disease Control, Tebogo Matjokotja, says the spike highlights an urgent need to strengthen surveillance, early detection and prompt treatment. 

“This upward trend signals heightened transmission risk, particularly in the early months of the year after the festive season, when many residents travel to malaria-endemic regions, increasing their exposure and risk of infection upon their return,” she said.

Malaria is a life-threatening but preventable and treatable disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), symptoms can appear within 10 to 15 days and may include fever, chills, headaches and fatigue, often mild at first, especially in previously exposed individuals.

The department has urged residents to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms develop, particularly after travelling to high-risk areas such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

“Preventive measures, including the use of insect repellent and wearing protective clothing, remain essential to reduce the risk of infection,” Matjokotja cautioned.

The rise in cases comes ahead of World Malaria Day on 25 April, as global health leaders warn that funding cuts could reverse progress made in combating the disease. 

Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for renewed global commitment to fight malaria.

“On World Malaria Day, the WHO calls on governments and donors to reinvest, reimagine and reignite. Reinvesting means more domestic spending… reimagining means using innovative tools… and reigniting means collective commitment and collaboration,” he said. 

The Gauteng Health Department says it will continue to monitor the situation closely while strengthening interventions aimed at curbing infections and reducing malaria-related deaths.

#CountryDuty

In other news, the @GautengHealth has issued an alert on increased cases of #Malaria in the Gauteng Province.

Between Jan – March 2026 414 cases of malaria were confirmed with 11 deaths confirmed.

If you develop systems such as fever, chills, headaches &… pic.twitter.com/rSNXsJCF3Z

— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) April 19, 2026