Cape Town – The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is urging parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive recommended vaccinations, as health authorities monitor a number of serious but largely sporadic illnesses, including meningococcal meningitis, measles and diphtheria, the department said on Friday.
Between 1 January and 22 February 2026, the department recorded 11 laboratory-confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis, including one death, across the province. Most cases occurred in children under the age of one, with eight cases in the Cape Town Metro, two in the Cape Winelands and one in the Overberg District.
“Meningitis is a dangerous disease and can be fatal,” the department said, urging parents to seek immediate medical care if their child shows symptoms such as sudden onset of fever, intense headache, stiff neck, nausea or a rash.
The department emphasised that the current cases are sporadic and do not constitute an outbreak, and it is continuing to monitor disease surveillance data to identify any concerning trends or clusters.
Health officials also noted that vaccination gaps in the province have contributed to rising cases of measles and diphtheria. So far, Cape Town Metro has reported 203 laboratory-confirmed measles cases between late December 2025 and mid-February 2026. Targeted vaccination campaigns are underway in several sub-districts, including Du Noon, Eastern, Mitchells Plain, Northern and Tygerberg.
“Parents are urged to look out for symptoms and keep children at home if they show any signs of illness,” the department said, noting that measles can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and brain infection.
On diphtheria, officials reminded caregivers that the disease spreads through respiratory droplets and can cause severe throat swelling that makes breathing difficult. “Immunisation is the most effective way to prevent diphtheria,” the department said, highlighting the importance of completing the full course of diphtheria-containing vaccines according to the national immunisation schedule.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Sudden onset of fever
- Intense headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stiff neck
- Irritability
- Sensitivity to light
- A rash with small, dark red discolourations on the body
While vaccines against meningococcal disease are not currently part of the national immunisation programme, they are available at tertiary hospitals for individuals deemed at higher risk and can be prescribed privately. The department said these vaccines alongside routine childhood immunisations offered free at all public health facilities play a vital role in protecting children from serious illness.
Free routine childhood vaccines are available at all public health facilities, and health authorities encourage parents to bring their children for scheduled immunisations and to arrange catch-up doses if any vaccinations were missed.
Parents are also encouraged to sign immunisation consent forms and return them to their children’s schools, and to attend clinic appointments to ensure their child’s vaccination record is up to date.
The department reiterated its call that timely vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases and strengthen overall community health.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
