From week 1 to week 38 of 2025, national measles surveillance has detected an increase in measles cases. As of 19 September 2025, a total of 1,100 laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been reported nationally, representing an increase of 81 cases since the previous report in week 37. Gauteng province reported 22 additional cases, bringing the total to 610. Limpopo reported 16 new cases, with a total of 155, Free State reported 9 new cases with a total of 140. Mpumalanga reported 16 new cases with a total of 82, and Western Cape reported 18 new cases with a total of 51.
Update on the measles outbreak in South Africa
Gauteng province measles outbreak updates
Gauteng province continues to report a high number of cases, with 610 laboratory-confirmed cases reported from epi-week 1 to 38 of 2025. The majority of the laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in the metropolitan areas, with the distribution of cases as follows: City of Johannesburg (144), City of Tshwane (310), Ekurhuleni (132), Sedibeng (21), and West Rand (3).
Free State province measles outbreak update
No new cases were reported in week 38 in Free State province. There were 140 cases reported from epi-week 1 to 36 of 2025, with 106/140 (75.7%) cases being children aged 1-14 years.
Limpopo province measles outbreak update
In Limpopo province, 155 laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been reported from epi-week 1 to epi-week 38, with children aged 1-14 years (120/155; 77.4%) being the most affected. From epi-week 27, Limpopo province reported an increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed cases in the Vhembe District Municipality, with 137 cases reported as of the end of epi-week 38.
Mpumalanga province measles outbreak update
In Mpumalanga province, 82 laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been reported from epi-week 1 to week 38, with 66/82 (80.5%) cases being children aged 1-14 years. From epi-week 26 to week 38, there was an increase in laboratory-confirmed cases in Nkangala District Municipality, with 65 laboratory-confirmed cases reported, and 1 new laboratory–confirmed measles case was reported in epi-weeks 37 and none in week 38 in Gert Sibande District Municipality.
Western Cape province measles outbreak update
One new case of measles was reported in Western Cape province in epi week 38. Western Cape province reported 51 laboratory-confirmed measles cases, with 37 cases from epi-week 34 to 38 of 2025 . The majority of laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in the City of Cape Town , which reported 50 cases.
Recommendations for public health interventions
- Measles awareness should be intensified in areas with localised outbreaks in order to alert the communities about the outbreaks and the prevention of the disease.
- Parents should be encouraged to vaccinate their children to protect them against measles infections.
- Parents whose children have missed their scheduled routine measles immunisation vaccine doses are encouraged to take their children for a measles vaccine catch-up dose.
- Measles surveillance should be strengthened nationally to improve case reporting and contact tracing.
- Provinces are urged to conduct measles risk assessment and continue with targeted or supplementary measles immunisation activities or campaigns in areas with low measles coverage and high numbers of children who have either never received vaccines (zero dose areas) or are under vaccinated (children who received one instead of the recommended two measles vaccine doses)
- Public awareness efforts must be intensified to address vaccine hesitancy by engaging with all relevant stakeholders in the affected communities
- Clinicians should report the suspected measles cases and collect blood specimens for laboratory confirmation, and also report patients who develop measles signs and symptoms using the NMC Surveillance System.
- Strengthening routine immunisation services and launching a mass vaccination campaign targeting children up to 15 years of age is also recommended.
Relevant resources, including the case definition, investigation form, and surveillance results, are available on the NICD measles page and the measles-rubella dashboard.
