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 […]
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
Malaria vector surveillance in South Africa: 2023 update Read More »
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
Investigation of a measles outbreak in Mpumalanga, South Africa (Nov 2022–Dec 2023) Read More »
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
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
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
The risk of zooanthroponosis of mpox in South Africa Read More »
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
Tracking STI pathogens in South Africa: sentinel surveillance report 2021–2024 Read More »
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
NICD Study Calls For Heightened Awareness Against Rabies Read More »
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
How Have Diarrhoeal Pathogens Affected South Africans Over 5 Years of Age in the Last 5 Years? Enteric pathogens are a common cause of diarrhoeal diseases and affect the stomach and intestines. These pathogens spread mainly through contact with contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Diarrhoeal disease has long been a significant global public health concern,
Tracking the Silent Spread: Enteric Pathogens in South Africa (2018–2023) Read More »
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