Overview
- Gauteng Health, which on Monday renewed public alerts, reported 414 cases and 11 deaths from January to March 2026, surpassing the province’s total malaria deaths for all of 2025.
- Health authorities link the rise to holiday travel to high‑risk areas such as Limpopo and Mpumalanga and to neighbouring countries including Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, with infections often detected after people return home.
- A Gauteng programme manager said most recent fatalities trace to Mozambique, noting that 9 of the 11 deaths involved people with links to that country.
- The World Health Organization warned in February of a very high malaria risk after floods in Limpopo and Mpumalanga damaged 138 health facilities and 78 schools, creating more mosquito breeding sites and slowing access to care.
- The National Institute for Communicable Diseases maps show the highest risk in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and Gauteng is urging rapid testing for fever, chills, headache and fatigue and promoting repellents and protective clothing ahead of World Malaria Day on 25 April.