Bekkersdal:Gauteng Gauteng residents, especially those traveling to malaria-endemic regions, are being advised to remain vigilant due to an uptick in malaria cases and fatalities. The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has reported that 17 individuals have succumbed to the disease between January and September this year.
According to South African Government News Agency, despite Gauteng being a non-endemic area for malaria, residents face risks when traveling to regions where the disease is prevalent. The department highlighted that in 2025, there were 666 malaria cases, including seven deaths, reported between January and December. In contrast, the period from January to September 2026 saw 768 cases and 17 deaths, marking a 38.6% increase in cases compared to the same timeframe in 2025, which had 554 cases and six deaths.
The GDoH expressed particular concern over the fact that 15 of the 17 deaths in 2026 involved individuals who had traveled to countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, with Mozambique accounting for approximately 59% of these deaths. This underscores the impact of cross-border travel on Gauteng's malaria burden. Residents planning trips to malaria-endemic areas are urged to seek advice from travel clinics in the province's five health districts and to take necessary precautions before and during their travels.
The department emphasized that malaria is a serious but preventable and treatable disease, with common symptoms including fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. They advised anyone experiencing these symptoms after traveling to or returning from a malaria-endemic area to seek medical attention immediately and inform healthcare workers of their travel history.
To bolster prevention efforts, environmental health practitioners in all five districts investigate reported cases to determine the source of infection and classify them as either imported or odyssean malaria cases. The province also audits all malaria-related deaths to identify contributing factors and enhance prevention and response measures. Furthermore, healthcare workers are continuously trained to improve their ability to identify suspected malaria cases, given that Gauteng is a non-endemic province.
Community awareness initiatives have been intensified at hotspots in high-risk populations, particularly during peak travel periods such as public holidays and the festive season. These initiatives include outreach at taxi ranks, bus stations, and other strategic locations to educate travelers on malaria prevention, symptoms, and the importance of early treatment. As part of these efforts, a malaria awareness event was held at Holomisa Sports Grounds in Bekkersdal, West Rand District, to educate communities about malaria transmission, signs, symptoms, and prevention measures.
The department continues to collaborate with municipalities, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the National Department of Health, and other stakeholders to enhance malaria prevention, surveillance, and control.