Don't let misinformation keep you and your loved ones unprotected. Discover how to safeguard your health this winter.
There is a very specific silence that settles over South Africa in winter.
It’s in the dark mornings where your alarm suddenly feels offensive. It’s in the taxis filled with coughs and sniffles. It’s in the office, a colleague insisting they are “fine” while visibly fighting for their life over a cup of coffee and cough syrup. And every year, many people make the same mistake: treating the flu like it is just “a bad cold".
But doctors warn the 2026 flu season is already underway, and the consequences of ignoring prevention can ripple far beyond a few miserable days in bed.
According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), influenza remains a significant seasonal health threat in South Africa, particularly for older adults, pregnant women, people living with HIV and those with chronic illnesses.
