Current Issues

Reflections on the national guidelines for mpox in South Africa (policy brief)

Current Issues, Policy briefs, Uncategorised / By

What can South Africa’s national mpox guidelines teach us about strengthening public health preparedness and response? Mpox, historically a rare zoonosis confined to parts of Central and West Africa, has evolved into a global public health concern since 2022, with more than 175 000 confirmed cases reported across 142 countries by November 2025. South Africa […]

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Imported Lassa fever in South Africa: clinical and public health insights

Case Studies, Current Issues / By

Can imported cases of Lassa fever highlight diagnostic challenges and strengthen public health preparedness in South Africa? Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) remain a significant public health concern due to their potential to cause severe disease and high mortality. In non-endemic countries, recognition can be challenging because early symptoms are often non-specific and resemble more common

Imported Lassa fever in South Africa: clinical and public health insights Read More »

The evolution of antenatal care HIV/syphilis sentinel surveillance in South Africa (1990–2022)

Current Issues, HIV, Surveillance Reports, Uncategorised / By

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

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One Health surveillance report for rabies in South Africa (2021–2023)

Current Issues, Surveillance Reports, Uncategorised / By

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

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The burden and epidemiology of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis and culture-confirmed cryptococcosis in South Africa, 2018–2023

Current Issues, Surveillance Reports / By

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

The burden and epidemiology of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis and culture-confirmed cryptococcosis in South Africa, 2018–2023 Read More »

The use of whole-genome sequencing to investigate a foodborne-associated outbreak in a mental healthcare institution

Current Issues, Outbreak Reports, Uncategorised / By

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

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Differential viral causes of vesicular rash in adults with suspected mpox in South Africa

Current Issues, Epidemiological Reports / By

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,

Differential viral causes of vesicular rash in adults with suspected mpox in South Africa Read More »

Epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in South Africa, 2023

Current Issues, Epidemiological Reports / By

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 »

Occupational cancer mortality in South Africa: insights from national data, 2011–2015

Current Issues, Surveillance Reports / By

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 »

Tracking infectious agents through wastewater in South Africa: measles, rubella, hepatitis, influenza, mpox, and tuberculosis, 2024

Current Issues, Surveillance Reports / By

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

Tracking infectious agents through wastewater in South Africa: measles, rubella, hepatitis, influenza, mpox, and tuberculosis, 2024 Read More »

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