Author name: Siyabonga Mbatha

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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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Tracking the Silent Spread: Enteric Pathogens in South Africa (2018–2023)

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,

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Influenza Surveillance in South Africa: 2024 Report

Why Is Influenza Still a Concern in South Africa? Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that primarily affect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. Its severity can vary from mild symptoms to life-threatening complications, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children,

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Occupational Lung Disease Surveillance in South African Miners: 2021 Findings

What Do the 2021 Autopsy Findings Reveal About Occupational Diseases in Miners? Occupational lung diseases, including emphysema and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), are common among South African miners due to long-term exposure to harmful dust and particles like coal and silica dust. Emphysema causes damage to the lungs, making it hard to breathe, while PTB is

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2023 GERMS-SA Annual Surveillance Review: Key Findings

What Do the 2023 GERMS-SA Findings Reveal About Disease Trends? For over two decades, GERMS-SA has led national laboratory surveillance in South Africa, tracking bacterial and fungal infections of public health importance. The programme enhances disease monitoring through laboratory reporting and sentinel site data collection. This includes antimicrobial resistance testing, serotyping, and whole genome sequencing

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