SA measles cases hit 3 462 as unvaccinated infants triple

South Africa has reported a significant rise in measles cases, reaching 3,462 since January 2026. Outbreaks have been documented in the Western Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Northern Cape, particularly among children aged one to fourteen years. This surge is attributed to a sharp decline in vaccination rates, with the proportion of unvaccinated infants increasing from 12.1% in 2017 to 36.3% between January and April 2026.

The Department of Health has called for immediate action to curb the falling immunisation coverage and prevent further outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, which could jeopardize decades of public health improvements.

The department highlighted that routine immunisation coverage has plummeted across all 52 districts, with first-dose coverage for children under one year dropping from 87% in 2021 to 67% in 2025, and the Hexavalent (6-in-1) infant vaccine coverage declining from 87% to 60.5% over the same period. The department warned that at the present rate, South Africa is unlikely to achieve the World Health Organization’s critical 90% coverage threshold for childhood immunisation.

Measles cases have been predominantly found in children aged 1-14 years, accounting for 70.9% of all reported cases. The majority of these cases are concentrated in provinces including the Western Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Northern Cape. The department emphasized the importance of maintaining South Africa's polio-free status, despite recent detections of imported polio virus strains in wastewater in Cape Town.

Additionally, sporadic cases of diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) have been identified, predominantly affecting infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated.

Rubella cases have also been recorded, mostly among children aged 1-14 years, posing serious risks to pregnant women due to the potential for congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The department stressed that the decline in routine immunisation rates has created a public health emergency, characterised by outbreaks of childhood diseases.

To address this urgent situation, the department is prioritising an immediate, coordinated national response, including catch-up vaccination campaigns to ensure all children receive the necessary immunisations. The public is urged to obtain accurate immunisation information from official government platforms and to disregard misinformation circulating on social media.