As South Africa braces for the 2026 influenza season, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) is calling on the public to become ‘citizen scientists’.

Through its digital platform, CoughWatchSA, the institute aims to build a nationwide network of volunteers to track respiratory trends and provide early warnings for potential outbreaks.

This community-led surveillance follows a successful 2025 pilot where data from just 785 participants accurately mirrored laboratory-confirmed cases of flu and Covid.

How the CoughWatchSA programme works

The NICD relies on volunteers who commit to sharing their respiratory symptoms weekly for six months during the peak season. Here is a simple breakdown of the process:

1. Register: Create an account on the official digital platform at https://coughwatchsa.org.za/.
2. Report Weekly: Submit a quick report every seven days for the duration of the surveillance season.
3. Track Symptoms: Record any experiences of a cough, fever, runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat.
4. Strengthen Health Defences: Your information is combined with other data to help health authorities spot early warning signs of community outbreaks.

Insights from the 2025 pilot

The data collected during the previous 2025 season proved to be a valuable resource. According to the NICD, “Data collected from the reports closely tracked laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza and SARS-CoV-2, providing early warning of increases in respiratory illness in the community.”

During that period, 15% of participants reported experiencing both a cough and fever. Among those who experienced symptoms, 34% sought medical care, primarily visiting clinics or general practitioners, while others relied on pharmacies and home remedies.

Get involved and protect your community

Participation is entirely voluntary and designed to complement, rather than replace, existing health department mobile tools. The NICD has confirmed that the programme adheres to strict ethical standards, with all personal data protected under the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act.

To help strengthen South Africa’s frontline health defences, residents are encouraged to register and share the platform link with their networks. You can sign up and start your weekly reporting at https://coughwatchsa.org.za/.