Gauteng records 414 malaria cases and 11 deaths in first quarter of 2026

The province reported a tenfold increase in deaths compared to the same period last year, with most infections imported from endemic regions.

The Gauteng Department of Health reported 414 confirmed malaria cases and 11 deaths between January and March 2026, compared with 230 cases and one death during the same period in 2025¹²³. The province recorded 666 cases and seven deaths for the entire year of 2025¹²⁶.

The department attributed the increase to festive season travel to malaria-endemic regions, including Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi¹²⁴⁵. "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," the department said¹².

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases said most Gauteng cases were imported from the malaria-endemic provinces of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, or through international travel⁷. The institute said Gauteng is not malaria-endemic and that malaria-transmitting mosquitoes do not occur in the province⁷.

Tebogo Matjokotja, programme manager for communicable disease control at the Gauteng Department of Health, said nine of 11 deaths were linked to cases from Mozambique⁴.

Heavy rainfall and recent flooding increased malaria risk in endemic provinces, the institute said⁷. The World Health Organisation reported in February that floods in Limpopo and Mpumalanga created a "very high risk" of malaria, warning that flood-related access constraints could delay diagnosis and treatment⁵⁷.

The department urged residents to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, chills, headache and fatigue, particularly after travelling to high-risk areas¹²⁶. "Recent surveillance data indicate a worrying rise in malaria infections and fatalities, underscoring the urgent need for strengthened surveillance, early detection and prompt treatment to prevent loss of life," the department said¹².

The department recommended preventive measures including the use of insect repellent and wearing protective clothing⁶.