South Africa has recorded 3,462 confirmed measles cases since January, with the majority among children aged 1-14 as vaccination rates continue to fall.
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South Africa has recorded 3,462 laboratory-confirmed measles cases since January 2026, with outbreaks reported in the Western Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Northern Cape, among children aged one to 14 years as vaccination rates continue to fall.
The Department of Health made the disclosure in a media statement on Wednesday.
It called for urgent action to halt declining immunisation coverage and prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases that could reverse decades of public health gains, including significant reductions in under-five and infant mortality achieved since the mid-2000s.
Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said the proportion of unvaccinated infants - children under one year old who receive no vaccinations - had increased from 12.1% in 2017 to an alarming 36.3% between January and April 2026.
This effectively triples the number of completely unvaccinated children and leaves hundreds of thousands of infants at risk of life-threatening illnesses, he said.
Mohale said routine immunisation coverage had fallen severely across all 52 districts in the country.
“First-dose coverage among children under one year dropped from 87% in 2021 to 67% in 2025.”
“Coverage of the Hexavalent (6-in-1) infant vaccine declined from 87% to 60.5% over the same period.”
Mohale said that at current rates, South Africa is unlikely to reach the World Health Organization’s critical 90% coverage threshold for childhood immunisation.
Unless urgent interventions are implemented, parents and families should take their unvaccinated children to health facilities for immunisation, he said.
He said the consequences of declining coverage include the resurgence of serious vaccine-preventable diseases, erosion of community, or herd immunity, and higher rates of long-term disability and death among infants.
“This is no longer a theoretical risk because active outbreaks are occurring in multiple provinces across the country.”
He revealed the number of measles cases reported since the start of the year.
“Since January 2026, South Africa has recorded 3,462 laboratory-confirmed measles cases, with outbreaks reported in the Western Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and other provinces.”
“The majority of cases (70.9%) are in children aged 1–14 years, directly linked to low immunisation coverage,” Mohale said.
He said the department underscored the importance of ensuring South Africans remain protected from polio, in line with the country’s status as polio-free.
“This is despite the recent confirmation of imported polio virus strains detected in wastewater in Cape Town.”
Mohale said South Africa has maintained its polio-free status since 2014.
He said sporadic cases of diphtheria - a serious bacterial infection of the nose and throat that can obstruct breathing - had been detected, primarily in the Western Cape, underscoring gaps in booster coverage and disease surveillance.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, cases have also been identified in several provinces, predominantly affecting infants under six months who are too young to be fully vaccinated, he said.
“This pattern signals a failure of herd immunity to protect the most vulnerable.
“Nearly 400 Rubella (German measles) cases have been recorded, mostly among children aged 1–14 years in several parts of the country.”
According to him, this poses severe risks for pregnant women because of the potential for congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
“The decline in routine immunisation rates has created a public health emergency characterised by childhood disease outbreaks.”
Mohale said addressing the situation requires coordinated action across all sectors of society, with particular emphasis on engaging families and communities where vaccination rates are lowest.
“Unvaccinated children can endanger infants and immunocompromised individuals who cannot be vaccinated, and weak coverage undermines early detection and rapid response to emerging threats.”
He said the department is prioritising an immediate, coordinated national response, including catch-up vaccination campaigns targeting children who have missed doses and under-immunised cohorts in all districts.
“The public is urged to rely on official government platforms for accurate immunisation information and to disregard unverified claims and misinformation circulating on social media platforms.”
“The department secures adequate vaccine supplies and maintains cold-chain infrastructure nationwide to ensure no child is left behind due to access constraints.”
“All vaccines used in South Africa are evaluated and registered by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), confirming their safety and effectiveness.”
He said parents, caregivers and communities are strongly encouraged to protect their children against vaccine-preventable diseases by visiting the nearest healthcare facility or provider for routine and catch-up immunisations.
“Disease outbreaks can disrupt children’s early development through prolonged school absence and reduced access to structured learning, with potential negative effects on mental well-being.”
“Families also bear significant burdens: parents may need to stay home when children are excluded from school or fall ill, leading to lost wages and employment instability.”
“Every child deserves protection, and safeguarding them is a collective responsibility,” he added.
**IOL News **
