South Africa’s HPV vaccination drive to protect girls from cervical cancer is working
Daily Maverick | 02.11.2026 18:30
Almost all cervical cancers are caused by persistent infection with HPV, a very common virus transmitted through sexual contact. Most HPV infections clear naturally, but some high-risk types can persist and can eventually lead to cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 alone are responsible for around 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide.
