Rising measles outbreaks in SA

SOUTH Africa faces a growing measles crisis as childhood vaccination rates continue to fall, leaving thousands of children vulnerable and driving outbreaks across multiple provinces.

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS [e-mail]

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed that measles outbreaks are ongoing in several provinces, including Gauteng, the Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, the Northern Cape and the Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality.

Between week 1 and week 45 of 2025, 1 795 laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported nationally, with 114 new cases added in the last week alone. Gauteng remains the most affected province, recording 745 cases, while the Western Cape reported 52 new cases in week 45. Rubella infections continue to rise as well, with 1 698 cases detected nationally by week 45.