Can South Africa rely on airport screening to detect Ebola disease? Airport and point-of-entry (PoE) screening became a major part of the international response to Ebola outbreaks in West Africa between 2014 and 2016 and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 2018 and 2020. Although millions of travellers were screened, few confirmed […]
What do we know about hand, foot, and mouth disease, and are we prepared for future outbreaks in South Africa? Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral infection that mainly affects young children. HFMD is caused by several enteroviruses, including Coxsackievirus A6, A10, A16 and Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71). It usually causes a
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD): Global overview and South African context (2025) Read More »
How well is South Africa detecting and reporting congenital syphilis in young children? Congenital syphilis (CS) remains a serious but preventable public health concern, occurring when syphilis is transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. Without timely screening and treatment during pregnancy, infection can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, severe illness and death.
Can HIV viral load monitoring help measure South Africa’s progress towards the 95-95-95 targets? Achieving the United Nations’ 95-95-95 targets is central to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. While increasing access to antiretroviral therapy is essential, routine HIV viral load monitoring provides critical insight into whether people living with HIV remain in care and
Can South Africa’s health system keep pace with climate change? Climate change is no longer a distant concern but a public health emergency that presents a growing threat globally, including in South Africa. The country is already experiencing climate-related health effects, including rising temperatures, floods and droughts, shifting vector-borne disease patterns, and water scarcity that
Strengthening South Africa’s public health response to climate change Read More »
Can year-round respiratory surveillance improve South Africa’s response to seasonal and emerging respiratory diseases? Respiratory pathogens remain a major public health concern, causing seasonal outbreaks and severe illness, particularly among young children, older adults, and people with underlying health conditions. Understanding when these pathogens circulate, who is most affected, and how they evolve is essential
Can laboratory-based surveillance help identify populations most at risk of invasive pneumococcal disease in South Africa? Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, remains an important cause of illness and death in South Africa, particularly among young children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals. Although the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) into the Expanded
How can artificial intelligence improve public health emergency management in resource-constrained settings? Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool for strengthening public health systems and improving Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM). Historically, digital technologies have supported disease surveillance and healthcare delivery. More recently, AI has demonstrated its potential during public health emergencies such
How do imported malaria cases influence transmission and antimalarial drug resistance in South Africa’s elimination districts? Malaria remains a major public health concern globally, despite being both preventable and curable. In 2024, an estimated 282 million malaria cases were reported worldwide, with Africa continuing to carry the overwhelming burden of disease transmission. South Africa, located
How do provincial differences shape the burden and characteristics of invasive pneumococcal disease in South Africa? Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, remains a significant public health concern in South Africa, particularly among infants, older adults, and individuals with underlying conditions. While the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) into the Expanded Programme
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The Public Health Bulletin South Africa (PHBSA) website is hosted by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), divisions of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). The PHBSA website is funded jointly by the NICD, the US CDC Foundation, and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative.
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