Rising measles cases in South Africa: Health measures and vaccination efforts

With 2,476 measles infections recorded since late December 2025, South Africa is seeing a sharp increase in cases.

South Africa is currently facing a nationwide increase in laboratory-confirmed measles cases. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) revealed that data available from December 29, 2025, and June 21, 2026 (ISO Weeks 1-25) indicated that 2,476 laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported nationally.

The NICD said that since the previous report, several additional cases were identified.

“The Free State reported the highest number of new cases (132), followed by Western Cape (58), Gauteng (46), Northern Cape (44), Limpopo (36), Mpumalanga (28), Eastern Cape (20), KwaZulu-Natal (6), and North West (4),” the NICD said.

Laboratory-confirmed measles detected for ISO Weeks 1-25 of 2026, December 29, 2025, to June 21, 2026, by province in South Africa.