How has antenatal care HIV and syphilis surveillance evolved, and what comes next? Antenatal care (ANC) services provide convenient access to healthy women who are sexually active and can serve as a proxy for the general population with respect to HIV surveillance. Since 1990, South Africa has conducted antenatal care HIV and syphilis sentinel surveillance […]
How can One Health surveillance reveal hidden trends in human and animal cases? Rabies, endemic in South Africa, is a fatal viral infection affecting livestock, wildlife, domestic animals, and humans through direct zoonotic exposure. Although rabies has been reported in numerous mammalian species, most human infections are associated with contact with rabid domestic dogs. Traditional
One Health surveillance report for rabies in South Africa (2021–2023) Read More »
Can surveillance data reveal trends in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in South Africa? HIV-associated cryptococcosis continues to contribute substantially to illness and death among people living with HIV in South Africa, despite important progress in expanding access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Cryptococcosis is a serious opportunistic fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii. It
What insights can whole-genome sequencing provide during foodborne disease investigations? Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (Salmonella Enteritidis) remains a leading cause of foodborne disease outbreaks globally and continues to pose a public health challenge in South Africa. Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infections account for a substantial proportion of foodborne illnesses worldwide, with the World Health Organization estimating
Can investigating viral causes of vesicular rash reduce misclassification of mpox cases in South Africa? Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV) and remains a public health concern globally. Prior to 2022, human mpox was reported sporadically from a limited number of countries in West and Central Africa. Since 2022,
How can sentinel surveillance uncover patterns of respiratory infections and guide public health responses? Respiratory viruses are a major cause of illness affecting both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, with seasonal peaks typically observed during the autumn and winter months. Pathogens such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2 continue to contribute substantially
Epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in South Africa, 2023 Read More »
Can mortality data help reveal hidden cancer risks across South Africa’s workplaces? Cancer poses a significant public health challenge in South Africa, yet understanding how workplace exposures contribute to cancer risk remains limited. Traditional surveillance systems often lack detailed occupational information, making it difficult to identify high-risk industries or exposure patterns. Mortality data provides a
Occupational cancer mortality in South Africa: insights from national data, 2011–2015 Read More »
Can wastewater surveillance reveal hidden disease trends and strengthen public health in South Africa? Infectious diseases caused by viral and bacterial pathogens remain a major public health concern. Traditional surveillance systems, which rely on laboratory-confirmed cases, can be affected by socioeconomic factors, delayed healthcare-seeking, and under-reporting. These challenges can obscure the true burden of disease
The burden of antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains one of the most critical global health threats, which could result in 169 million people dying of AMR-related causes between 2025 and 2050. Despite the magnitude, it is a “silent pandemic” because it receives far less attention than traditional pandemics. However, if we examine the problem
Antimicrobial resistance: The threat we can see, if we choose to look Read More »
How can increased meningococcal vaccination protect South Africa’s university students from this disease? Meningococcal disease is a devastating illness that affects healthy young individuals, many of whom are tertiary students. It can result in sudden death or long-term sequelae such as blindness, deafness, or amputations. Newly acquired meningococcal nasopharyngeal colonisation occurs frequently on tertiary campuses
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