Gauteng reports 414 malaria cases, 11 deaths in first quarter of 2026

Provincial health officials attributed the increase to post-festive travel to endemic regions including neighbouring countries.

The Gauteng health department reported 414 confirmed malaria cases and 11 deaths between January and March 2026, compared with 230 cases and one death in the same period of 2025¹²³. The province recorded 666 cases and seven deaths for the full year 2025¹².

The department attributed the increase to holiday travel to high-risk areas including Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, which increased residents' exposure to infected mosquitoes³. The department said the 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 regions¹².

Malaria is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito¹². The department warned that delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to severe illness and death¹².

Residents have been urged to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, chills, headache and fatigue, especially after travelling to high-risk areas¹²³. The department said recent surveillance data underscore the need for strengthened surveillance, early detection and prompt treatment to prevent loss of life¹².