Author name: Siyabonga Mbatha

An outbreak of Alkalihalobacillus clausii bacteraemia linked to probiotic use in South African hospitals (2024)

Current Issues, Outbreak Reports / By

How did probiotic use contribute to the A. clausii outbreak in South African hospitals? Alkalihalobacillus clausii (A. clausii), formerly known as Bacillus clausii, is a spore-forming gram-positive bacillus widely used in probiotic formulations. It has demonstrated therapeutic potential in managing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea by reducing inflammation, protecting intestinal integrity, and restoring gut microbiota balance. Although generally […]

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Antenatal HIV and syphilis testing in South Africa: Comparing medical records and laboratory results among pregnant women

Current Issues, Surveillance Reports / By

How consistent are antenatal HIV and syphilis results across data sources? Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum (TP). Globally, about 7.1 million people were newly infected with TP and an estimated 200 000 deaths were due to syphilis in 2020. Syphilis can be transmitted from mother to

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Malaria vector surveillance in South Africa: 2023 update

Current Issues, Malaria, Surveillance Reports, Uncategorised / By

How do mosquito species and resistance trends impact malaria transmission? Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. In South Africa, malaria transmission is seasonal and occurs mainly in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.  Symptoms can range from fever, chills, and headaches to severe

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Investigation of a measles outbreak in Mpumalanga, South Africa (Nov 2022–Dec 2023)

Current Issues, Outbreak Reports, Uncategorised / By

What contributed to the measles outbreak in Mpumalanga? Measles is a highly infectious and potentially fatal acute viral disease that predominantly affects young children. It is characterised by fever and a maculopapular rash that typically appears 3–5 days after the onset of respiratory-like symptoms. Complications include diarrhoea, pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. Measles is vaccine-preventable. Despite

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New PHBSA study reveals critical role of food safety training in preventing foodborne disease outbreaks

Media statements / By

All restaurants must prioritise food safety and good hygiene practices, including training new staff and regularly retraining existing staff in appropriate food handling processes to prevent foodborne diseases. This is one of the key recommendations from a study published this week in the Public Health Bulletin South Africa (PHBSA). The study, which investigated a foodborne

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Investigation of foodborne disease outbreak linked to restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa (February, 2024)

Case Studies, Current Issues / By

How did a Cape Town restaurant become the source of a foodborne disease outbreak in February 2024? Foodborne diseases (FBD) are illnesses caused by eating contaminated food. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that globally, one in ten people, about 600 million individuals, fall ill from FBD every year, with 420,000 deaths. Low and middle-income

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The risk of zooanthroponosis of mpox in South Africa

Current Issues, Opinion Pieces, Uncategorised / By

Is there a risk of mpox spreading from humans back to animals? Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). The virus is transmitted from animals to humans in endemic areas in central and western Africa. Although the natural ecology of MPXV remains to be elucidated, evidence points towards several rodent species

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Tracking STI pathogens in South Africa: sentinel surveillance report 2021–2024

Current Issues, Surveillance Reports, Uncategorised / By

What do the latest findings tell us about STIs and treatment in South Africa? Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a group of infections passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Caused by more than 30 bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens, STIs can range from curable infections like gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis, to lifelong

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NICD Study Calls For Heightened Awareness Against Rabies

Media statements / By

The latest Public Health Bulletin South Africa (PHBSA) surveillance report calls for heightened awareness against rabies. Rabies is a viral disease transmitted primarily through the saliva of infected animals, mostly dogs, through bites, scratches, open wounds, or mucous membranes. Most human rabies cases are linked to dog bites, and the disease is almost always fatal

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Animal Bites and Human Rabies in Limpopo, South Africa (2011–2023): Epidemiological Trends and Insights

Current Issues, Surveillance Reports, Uncategorised / By

What Do 12 Years of Data Reveal About Rabies and Animal Bite Trends in Limpopo? Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus and is primarily transmitted to humans through the saliva of infected animals. Transmission occurs via bites, scratches, or contact with mucous membranes and open wounds. The disease presents with

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