As part of these celebrations, the NCR will host a 40th Anniversary Symposium and Gala, which will reflect on four decades of cancer surveillance, highlight the importance of cancer data and surveillance, and look towards the future of cancer prevention and control in South Africa. Cancer remains an important public health challenge, and reliable data is essential to understanding who is affected, which cancers are most common, where the burden is greatest, and how cancer trends change over time.

For 40 years, the NCR has contributed to this evidence base through tracking cancer incidence across South Africa; collecting, analysing and reporting cancer statistics to strengthen understanding of the country’s cancer burden; supporting the Department of Health and other stakeholders in cancer prevention, control and care initiatives; and informing cancer policy and guidelines in South Africa.

The symposium will provide media an opportunity to hear from cancer surveillance experts, gain insight into four decades of cancer data and its impact on public health, and explore the future of cancer surveillance in South Africa.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover this significant milestone in South Africa’s public health history.

Event details:

• Date: Thursday, 10 September 2026
• Time: 09:00–15:00
• Arrival time: 08:30
• Venue: 1 Modderfontein Road, Sandringham. National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), PRF Auditorium.

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South African stakeholders have once again come together through the National Rabies Advisory Group, joining forces in the fight against rabies. We aim to create awareness around rabies and the animal and public health impact this deadly disease has, using multiple platforms. Be on the lookout for the national social media campaign in September 2026.

Rabies remains one of the world’s deadliest yet most preventable diseases. This year’s World Rabies Day theme, ‘Stronger Together’, reminds us that eliminating rabies requires partnership at every level. Communities, pet owners, veterinary and para-veterinary professionals, healthcare workers, government departments, policymakers and partner organisations each have a critical role in rabies elimination.

Rabies prevention depends on coordinated human, animal and environmental health systems working together in support of each other.

Core rabies messages

Rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is preventable through vaccination and prompt post-exposure treatment.

• Although Rabies is 99.9% fatal once a person or animal shows clinical signs, it is also 100% preventable through vaccination of our pets and timely and correct treatment of exposed humans.
• Rabies is a deadly disease with no cure once symptoms appear. It can be transmitted to people by an infected animal’s bite, scratch, or lick. If a person is bitten, scratched, or licked by an animal suspected to have rabies (an animal showing odd behaviour or neurological symptoms), the person needs to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 10 minutes and seek medical attention immediately. Post-exposure prophylaxis treatment will involve a series of rabies vaccinations and rabies immunoglobulin being injected into the wound (if the skin has been broken).
• If your dogs and cats are vaccinated annually against rabies, they form a protective barrier for your family and protect you. The same is true if everyone in your community ensures that their dogs and cats are vaccinated annually.
• Rabies vaccines that are registered for use in South Africa are safe to use in your dogs and cats and should be administered through a registered veterinary professional.
• Legally, every pet owner must have their dogs and cats vaccinated to protect both humans and animals against rabies. The first rabies vaccine is given at 12 weeks (three months) of age, followed by a booster vaccination one month later. A booster can be given up to 12 months later, but one month later is the recommended option. Thereafter, a booster is legally required every three years. In high-risk areas, annual vaccination is strongly advised!
• Remember that any mammal can become infected with rabies – this includes pets, wildlife, livestock, and humans. Typical wildlife species that can host rabies include jackals, foxes, mongooses, aardwolf and cape fur seals, amongst others.
• Dogs and cats are often moved between provinces by travellers, workers, or holiday-goers, which can easily cause the spread of rabies to any area if these animals are not vaccinated against rabies and are incubating the disease.

Enquire with your local state or private veterinarian, animal health technician or welfare organisation. State veterinary office contact details are available at: https://www.nda.gov.za/index.php/component/content/article/451-provincial-veterinary-services-contacts

A list of all registered veterinary facilities is available at: https://savc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FacilityRegisterPublish_July-2026.pdf

Vaccinate your dogs and cats, support campaigns, share accurate information, educate others and strengthen community protection. For more information about rabies, visit here.

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Rotavirus is a common childhood diarrhoeal infection that has a seasonal pattern, peaking during the cooler, drier months of the year. Most children have at least one infection by two years of age.  The virus is transmitted via the faecal-oral route. “Clinical symptoms include the sudden onset of vomiting followed by non-bloody watery diarrhoea, which may result in severe life-threatening dehydration. Fever may occur in approximately 30-50% of patients. Associated symptoms include loss of appetite (anorexia), lethargy, and mild abdominal discomfort,” said Prof. Nicola Page, head of the Centre for Enteric Diseases at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.

Since the rotavirus vaccine was introduced into the expanded programme of immunisation in August 2009, the annual rotavirus season in South Africa typically occurs from July to August and may extend into September.

Diarrhoeal syndromic surveillance is conducted at five sites as part of the GERMS-SA platform (Pelonomi Hospital, Free State; Klerksdorp/Tshepong hospitals, North West; Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Western Cape; Kabokweni Clinic, Mpumalanga and Kalafong Hospital, Gauteng). The surveillance targets all patients presenting for the treatment of diarrhoea at participating sites.

“Parents should also watch for signs of early to moderate dehydration, including no tears, dry mouth, sunken soft spot or eyes, fewer wet nappies (no wet nappy for previous 6-8 hours), and behaviour changes like unusual fussiness, listlessness and lethargy or refusal to eat or drink. In these children, parents could increase fluid intake or, if concerned, proceed to the nearest clinic or health facility,” warned Prof. Page.

Children with severe dehydration may become excessively sleepy or limp, produce dark urine, have cold or discoloured skin, exhibit fast breathing or heartbeat and their skin will form a tent when pinched and be slow to return to normal. Severe dehydration is a medical emergency, and these children should be taken to the nearest medical facility or clinic immediately, administering oral rehydration solution on the way, if possible. Prompt recognition of dehydration and rapid treatment will prevent prolonged hospitalisation, complications and even death.

For more information about rotavirus, visit the NICD website here.

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The workshop, which brings together around 25 scientists, industry developers, regulators, and international partners, builds on progress that South Africa has made in developing the sterile insect technique (SIT), in which male mosquitoes are reared in the laboratory, sterilised and released by the thousands to mate with wild females, whose eggs then will never hatch. Since the first sterile male releases in Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2021, the South African SIT programme has advanced the technology. The lessons learned along the way, from mass-rearing to long-distance transportation to community engagement, are proving to be the foundation for adaptation to other new innovative tools such as gene drive technology.

The gene drive technology – in contrast to SIT, which makes male mosquitoes unable to father offspring – provides a genetic change a head start: instead of being inherited by only half of a mosquito’s offspring as normal genes are, a gene drive is passed on to nearly all of them. Released in small numbers, it can spread through a wild population over generations, offering a self-sustaining tool that needs far fewer repeat releases than SIT. “The two technologies share the same starting point,” explains Dr Givemore Munhenga, Principal Medical Scientist in the Vector Control Reference Laboratory at NICD’s Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases. “Before any genetically modified mosquito can help fight malaria, someone still has to rear it by the hundreds of thousands, package it safely, transport it, and release it in the field. That is exactly where our SIT experience becomes so valuable.”

The workshop, jointly convened with the USA Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focuses on three practical questions: What are the biggest technical challenges in mass-rearing, handling, transporting and releasing genetically modified mosquitoes? Which of these steps can realistically be automated? And should production happen locally, country by country, or regionally, with mosquitoes shipped across borders to where they are needed? Delegates included gene drive researchers, companies developing mosquito-rearing automation, and oversight bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and New Partnership for Africa’s Development. “Gene drives have shown enormous promise in caged trials, but very few groups have grappled with what it actually takes to move from the laboratory to the field,” emphasised Dr Munhenga. “That is our expertise. This workshop lets us share it, learn from others working on the same problem, and make sure that when these tools are ready, Africa is ready to deploy them.”

By the end of the week, the workshop aims to produce an understanding of technical needs and knowledge gaps, new collaborations between NICD and gene drive developers and implementers, and a refined roadmap for the Institute’s own upscaling of the SIT project, another step towards putting a self-sustaining tool in the hands of malaria control programmes in South Africa and across the continent.

The workshop launches alongside a new three-year NICD project to upscale the deployment of genetic control approaches against Anopheles, South Africa’s primary malaria-carrying mosquito. The project will refine mass-rearing and sexing automation, test long-distance chilled transport, trial both ground and drone-based releases, and strengthen the regulatory pathways needed before any gene-drive mosquito can be released in the field.

Recent social media posts claiming that the NICD has confirmed a Typhoid fever outbreak in Tshwane are misleading. Please refer to https://www.nicd.ac.za/typhoid-fever-updates/ for an accurate report of the number of cases identified within the country.

We urge the public to verify health information before sharing it and to rely on the NICD website and official social media platforms for accurate, up-to-date public health information.

TAP-WES is a regional initiative that positions the NICD as a technical and training hub for wastewater and environmental surveillance in Africa. The programme supports countries to design, implement, and scale sustainable WES systems by providing technical assistance, training, mentoring, and opportunities for peer learning. It adopts a pathogen-agnostic approach while supporting surveillance of priority pathogens identified by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The programme also shares South Africa’s experience in integrating wastewater surveillance into routine public health surveillance. Through this work, the NICD supports countries in developing policies, designing surveillance systems, strengthening laboratory capacity, improving data analysis, and integrating wastewater surveillance with clinical surveillance and pandemic preparedness.

The two-week training combines classroom learning with practical, hands-on experience. During the first week, participants undertook a field sampling exercise and received laboratory training in sample concentration, nucleic acid extraction, and pathogen detection using both digital and real-time PCR platforms. The second week focuses on data management, epidemiological analysis, reporting, and introductory bioinformatics, with specialised bioinformatics sessions delivered in collaboration with the Scripps Research Institute in the United States.

By building technical expertise and fostering collaboration between African public health institutions, TAP-WES aims to strengthen regional capacity to detect and respond to infectious disease threats through wastewater surveillance. The programme contributes to a more coordinated and resilient public health surveillance network across the continent.

The TAP-WES programme is funded by the Gates Foundation and is implemented in partnership with WHO-AFRO, with technical collaboration from the Scripps Research Institute.

Influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 is now recognised globally as one of the regular seasonal influenza strains that circulate each year and management is the same as for other seasonal influenza strains. For healthy individuals, the illness is mild to moderate and can be safely managed at home with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medication.

Common symptoms of influenza may include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle and body aches, fatigue and runny or blocked nose. Many people recover fully within a few days to a week without requiring hospitalisation or antiviral treatment. However, certain groups are at higher risk of severe illness or complications. These include pregnant women, older persons, young children, and individuals with underlying medical conditions such as HIV, TB, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or chronic lung disease.

People in these high-risk groups are encouraged to seek medical attention early if they develop flu symptoms, particularly if they experience difficulty breathing, chest pain, dehydration, persistent fever, or worsening illness.

The NICD continues to strongly recommend annual influenza vaccination as the most effective way to reduce the risk of severe disease and hospitalisation. Vaccination is especially important for vulnerable groups and healthcare workers.

The public can also help reduce the spread of influenza by practising simple everyday prevention measures such as:

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or bent elbow
• Stay home when sick to avoid infecting others
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• Ensure indoor spaces are well ventilated where possible

The Department and the NICD will continue to monitor influenza trends through national surveillance systems.

Weekly updates on influenza and other circulating respiratory viruses such as RSV, COVID-19, and pertussis are available from the NICD. Click here to visit the page.

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While the ship was travelling past South African shores, some of the passengers experienced serious health complications arising from what was initially considered severe acute respiratory infections.

The ship, carrying about 147 individuals (88 passengers from various countries, and 59 crew members) had departed Ushuaia, Southern Argentina, for Canary Islands on 1 Apr 2026. Enroute to its destination, the ship went past several islands, including mainland Antarctica, Falklands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, St Helena, and Ascension

In terms of medical cases, the first patient was a 70-year-old male passenger who suddenly became ill in the ship enroute from Ushuaia to St Helena Island, and presented with fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. Unfortunately, he passed away on arrival at St Helena Island. His mortal remains are in St Helena, awaiting repatriation to the Netherlands.

The second affected passenger was a 69-year-old female, the spouse to the first patient, who collapsed at the OR Tambo International Airport while trying to connect a flight to her home country of the Netherlands. She was taken to a nearby health facility around Kempton Park for medical attention and unfortunately passed away. Her laboratory test result was positive for Hantavirus.

The third patient, a British national, also became ill while the ship was travelling from St Helena to Ascension. Despite medical treatment provided to him at Ascension, his condition did not improve and necessitated his medical evacuation to a South African private health facility in Sandton for further medical management. His laboratory test results came back positive for Hantavirus – a rare but potentially deadly virus transmitted primarily by rodents. The patient is still in critical condition in isolation, but receiving medical attention.

The Department is working with the NICD and Gauteng Health Department authorities to conduct contact tracing to stop potential spread of the virus by identifying and monitoring individuals who may have been exposed to the infected persons.

In our view, there is no need for the public to panic because only two patients from the cruise ship have been within our borders. The World Health Organization is coordinating a multi-country response with all affected islands and countries to contain further spread of the disease.

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In early 2026, several southern African countries, including Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, experienced significantly higher rainfall than normal. Some areas reported a year’s worth of rainfall in a matter of days.

These extreme rainfall events ruined essential infrastructure, displaced local communities, many of whom were already vulnerable, threatened food security, and placed added pressure on overburdened, fragile health systems.

Gains have been slipping 

Even before the recent heavy rains, the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) malaria elimination aspirations were under immense threat. There had been reports of significant malaria upsurges in several SADC countries, aggravated by unforeseen, drastic cuts to international donor funding that supported routine malaria control activities in many of these countries. The recent heavy rains and associated flooding further exacerbated the situation in several countries, many of which were still recovering from the 2025 upsurges.

Over the first four weeks of 2026, Namibia reported 8 760 cases, an increase of 68% compared to the same period in 2025, while Zimbabwe reported 1 725 cases and four malaria-related deaths in the first week of January 2026. Mozambique, one of the countries most affected by the recent flooding, saw a 55% increase in case numbers over the first six weeks of 2026, reporting 49 deaths and over 1.35 million cases.

South Africa, with a reduction in annual case numbers in 2025, appeared to be on track to meet its elimination target. However, Mpumalanga province, one of the country’s three malaria-endemic provinces, experienced a fourfold increase in cases in January 2026, reporting 314 cases compared to 69  reported in January 2025, placing the country’s elimination agenda at risk.

Higher disease risk 

Crucially, disruptions associated with these extreme flooding events also increased the risk of disease transmission. Waterborne illnesses such as cholera pose an immediate threat. But diseases like malaria, which are associated with stagnant water, emerge as threats weeks later.

Flooding often alters the environment to favour malaria transmission in malaria-endemic areas.

As flood waters subside, they leave behind microhabitats such as small pools of stagnant water, waterlogged fields, and blocked drains/sewers. All these serve as ideal breeding sites for malaria mosquitoes.

Flood-related damage to critical infrastructure, like roads and healthcare facilities, disrupts the timely delivery of essential services such as malaria testing and treatment and vector control interventions to the affected communities. Collectively, they contribute to increased malaria transmission.

Communities must be part of the solution

Local communities and governments must actively work together to build resilience to extreme weather events and malaria. Governments, local communities, and technical experts should work together to generate up-to-date maps of flood-risk areas. These evidence-informed flood-risk maps can then be used to guide the development of infrastructure such as housing, safely away from flood-risk areas, potentially reducing the exposure to malaria.

Local, often vulnerable, populations must play their part by not building homes near rivers that regularly burst their banks or in low-lying flood-prone areas.

Additionally, these communities must support and accept routine, effective vector control interventions such as indoor residual spraying and larviciding.

Working with local government structures, affected local communities should actively reduce potential breeding sites by draining stagnant pools, ensuring water storage containers are sealed, and unclogging and covering drains and sewers.

Need for urgent action

An increased availability of suitable breeding sites in areas where malaria mosquitoes are abundant is generally associated with significant increases in transmission intensity – a trend observed in several SADC countries following the recent extreme rainfall events.

Malaria is an unforgiving disease, rapidly progressing to severe disease if not promptly diagnosed and effectively treated with antimalarials. A high index of suspicion for malaria is therefore essential among all flood-affected communities residing in malaria-endemic areas.

This strong malaria awareness must be supported by ready access to malaria testing and treatment. Mitigation and system-strengthening strategies must be developed and actioned to allow healthcare facilities to offer essential basic malaria services in the wake of flood-related disruptions.

The southern Africa region will experience more regular extreme weather events, which will inevitably impact malaria. It is therefore critical that sustainably funded, integrated, effective, climate-sensitive malaria control strategies are implemented and supported by strong, resilient health systems.

Affected communities must be adequately capacitated and resourced to respond to extreme events and protect themselves from malaria. Together, these will support the SADC region in achieving its ambitious goal of malaria elimination.

Dr Jaishree Raman is a Principal Medical Scientist and the head of the Laboratory for Antimalarial Resistance Monitoring and Malaria Operational Research at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases.

This article is republished under a Creative Commons license.

In the first three months of 2026, Gauteng recorded 414 confirmed malaria cases and 11 deaths. While these figures are concerning and require increased public awareness and prompt healthcare action, most of these cases are imported. This means the infections were acquired in the malaria-endemic regions of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, or through international travel to malaria-endemic locations, and diagnosed after individuals returned to the Gauteng province.

In South Africa, malaria transmission is mainly confined to the low-altitude areas of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, where malaria-transmitting mosquitoes occur and environmental conditions support ongoing transmission. Provinces such as Gauteng are not considered malaria-endemic, but imported malaria cases are frequently identified, particularly among travellers returning from affected areas within South Africa and elsewhere. In areas like Gauteng, where malaria-transmitting mosquitoes do not occur, people infected with malaria cannot transmit malaria to others.

Recent heavy rains and flooding across the region have increased malaria risk in endemic provinces in South Africa. For example, Mpumalanga alone reported more than 300 cases in January 2026, while neighbouring malaria-endemic countries have also seen a rise in infections. These conditions highlight the importance of heightened awareness, especially during and after the rainy season.

Malaria is both preventable and treatable, but it can progress rapidly to severe illness and death if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Travellers to malaria-endemic areas should take preventive measures seriously, including the use of appropriate malaria chemoprophylaxis for moderate- to high-risk destinations. Anyone who develops flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, body aches, or fatigue after recent travel to a malaria-endemic area – whether within South Africa or elsewhere in Africa – should seek medical attention immediately and request a malaria test. This applies even to those who have taken preventive medication, as no prophylactic is 100% effective. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment save lives.

For additional guidance on malaria prevention, symptoms, and treatment, click here.

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