Namibia has reported 56,130 malaria cases and 95 related deaths since the start of the current malaria season in December 2024, according to the Minister of Health, Esperance Luvindao.
Speaking in Oshakati, northern Namibia, Luvindao said the outbreak has affected all 10 malaria-endemic regions in the north and northeast, including Zambezi, Kavango East and West, Ohangwena, Omusati, and Oshikoto.
She disclosed that as of 20 April 2025, at least 5,226 people had been hospitalised, with 81 per cent of the cases resulting from local transmission. The surge, she noted, was driven in part by favourable mosquito breeding conditions during the rainy season.
Malaria continues to pose a major public health concern in Namibia, the minister warned, urging citizens to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear.
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To combat the outbreak, Luvindao said the government has intensified control measures, including indoor residual spraying, larviciding of breeding grounds, and the distribution of insecticide-treated nets, particularly among high-risk groups such as cattle herders and those in unsprayed communities.
“Community involvement is crucial in our malaria response. We urge the public to eliminate stagnant water sources, use mosquito repellents, and sleep under treated nets,” she said.
Luvindao also appealed to development partners, employers, and community leaders to support Namibia’s target of eliminating malaria by 2027.
Malaria transmission in Namibia typically peaks between December and May, in line with the country’s rainy season.
