Namibia continues to battle with a widespread malaria outbreak
In a follow-up on the malaria outbreak in Namibia, a country on the west coast of Southern Africa, health officials report 89,959 confirmed cases and 146 deaths since the start of the outbreak in late 2024.
The latest week with data, the week ending June 8, 2,475 new infections were reported, a 5.0% increase from the previous week.
Katima Mulilo district (23,959 cases, 19 deaths) and Nkurenkuru district (17,381 cases, 13 deaths) have been hit particularly hard.
Since December 2024, local cases have totaled 74,005, or 82% of the total, evidence of sustained community-level transmission, especially in endemic northern and northeastern regions.
According to the World Health Organization, the Namibia Ministry of Health continues to coordinate response activities through surveillance, case management, and vector control operations.
However, the steady rise in cases highlights the need for intensified public health messaging, early treatment access, and community-based vector interventions. With peak transmission still ongoing, the Ministry warns that without sustained vigilance and community cooperation, Namibia could see continued surges in malaria morbidity well into the second half of the year.