Western Cape Battles Meningitis, Measles, Diphtheria

The South Africa===Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is closely monitoring and managing outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis, measles, and diphtheria in the province. Between January 1 and February 22, 2026, 11 cases of meningococcal meningitis, including one death, were confirmed, primarily affecting infants under one year old. The South Africa===Cape Town Metro district reported the majority of these cases, along with 203 laboratory-confirmed measles cases between December 29, 2025, and February 15, 2026. These outbreaks are attributed to declining childhood immunization rates and population immunity gaps. The South Africa===Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is urging parents to ensure their children receive routine immunizations and has initiated targeted vaccination drives in affected areas. While meningococcal vaccines are registered in South Africa, they are not part of the national immunization program but are available at tertiary hospitals for high-risk individuals or privately. Measles-rubella and diphtheria-containing vaccines are part of the national schedule.