Western Cape Health urges parents to vaccinate children as Meningitis and Measles cases rise

By Levy Masiteng 

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is urging parents to vaccinate their children against preventable diseases, warning that declining immunisation rates are leaving young children vulnerable to serious infections such as meningococcal meningitis, measles and diphtheria.

The call came after the department confirmed a total of 11 meningococcal disease cases, including one death, recorded between 1 January 2026 and 22 February. 

ALSO READ: Ntuli unveils 8-Point Plan to drive economic revival and governance reform in KZN

According to the department, eight cases were reported in the Cape Town Metro district, two in the Cape Winelands, and one in the Overberg District. 

They said that the majority of cases involved infants under the age of one year. 

Health authorities stressed that these cases are sporadic and do not constitute an outbreak.

However, the department said it is closely monitoring the situation as part of its ongoing