Current Issues

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 […]

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

Why Is Congenital Syphilis Still a Concern in South Africa? Congenital syphilis (CS) refers to the mother-to-child transmission of syphilis (MTCTs) during pregnancy or childbirth. It occurs when a woman infected with Treponema pallidum—the bacteria that causes syphilis—becomes pregnant or when a pregnant woman acquires the infection during the pregnancy, and the infection remains undetected,

Why Is Meningococcal Disease on the Rise in South Africa? Meningococcal disease is endemic in South Africa. IMD episodes occur throughout the year, with seasonal increases in winter through spring. The causative bacterium Neisseria meningitidis colonises the human nasopharynx and is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. The disease mostly occurs when the

What Insights Can We Draw from the 2009-2023 Enteric Virus Data in South Africa? Enteric viruses, which primarily impact the gastrointestinal tract, are a leading cause of illness among young children. Viruses like rotavirus, adenovirus, and norovirus spread easily through contaminated food, water, and close contact, often triggering widespread outbreaks, particularly in communities with limited

What Can We Learn from Recent Cancer Statistics in South Africa? Cancer occurs when cells in the body grow and divide uncontrollably, often forming tumors and disrupting normal bodily functions. This disease remains a global health crisis, with nearly 10 million deaths reported in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Low- and middle-income

What Did the 2022 Surveillance Reveal About Respiratory Illnesses in South Africa? Respiratory viruses are known for causing illnesses in the respiratory system, with symptoms often affecting both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Viruses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV are common during the autumn and winter seasons, leading to hospitalizations and deaths. Symptoms of

How Should STI Screening Adapt to Better Serve High-Risk Populations? Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are caused by various bacteria, viruses, and parasites, mainly spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Some STIs can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. There are curable infections like syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis,

What Can We Learn from Odyssean Malaria Cases in South Africa Over the Last Decade? Odyssean malaria is caused by malaria parasite-infected mosquitoes that have inadvertently travelled to non-malarious areas via various transport mechanisms (sea, air, rail, road). A person/s bitten by such a mosquito may result in a case/s of malaria in the absence