20/02/2026
🚨 HEALTH ALERT: MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS
Confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis have been reported at a local school in Durbanville.
Meningococcal disease can progress within hours, and children can become critically ill very quickly. In some cases, children can deteriorate and die within 24 hours if treatment is delayed. Even when children survive, this infection can cause devastating long-term complications such as hearing loss, brain injury, limb damage, scarring, and learning difficulties.
âť— Seek URGENT medical care if your child develops ANY of the following:
* Sudden high fever
* Severe headache
* Neck stiffness
* Vomiting
* Sensitivity to light
* Drowsiness, confusion, or difficulty waking
* A rash that does not fade when pressed
* Cold hands and feet, pale or mottled skin, severe muscle pain
⏱️ Do not wait. Do not “see how it goes.”
If you are worried at all, rather have your child checked immediately. Early antibiotics and hospital care save lives.
🛡️ Vaccination saves lives
Meningococcal disease is preventable. Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe disease and death.
👉 Children and teenagers should be protected with:
* MENACTRA vaccine (protects against strains A, C, W, Y)
* BEXSERO (protects against strain B, that is the most common cause of disease in infants and adolescents in the Western Cape) If you live in the Western Cape and you can only afford one then get this one.
Together, these two vaccines provide the best available protection against meningococcal disease.
I would advise all children 2 months and older to get the BEXSERO Vaccine immediately and to be repeated in 2 months time and all children 9 months and older to get both the BEXSERO and MENACTRA vaccines if they have not had it yet.
They are not part of the Government recommended vaccines.
👨‍👩‍👧 What parents should do now:
* Monitor your child closely for any symptoms
* Keep unwell children at home
* Follow guidance from the school and health authorities
* Check your child’s meningococcal vaccination status and speak to your doctor about catch-up vaccination if needed
* Inform caregivers, grandparents, and schools about the warning signs
If you are worried about your child at any point, seek medical attention immediately. Trust your instinct.
Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician
