What is Candida auris? Candida auris is a fungal (yeast-like) pathogen within the Candida genus, which has caused healthcare-associated outbreaks of serious infections on several continents. This pathogen can live on the skin, inside the human body (e.g. in the gut) or in the environment. C. auris causes serious infections such as bloodstream infections, meningitis, bone infections, burns/wound infections and urinary […]
What is Diphtheria? Diphtheria is a contagious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection. It is caused by infection with a toxin-producing strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae or more rarely Corynebacterium ulcerans or Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. It occurs in two forms- respiratory diphtheria and cutaneous diphtheria. Diphtheria in Publications Bulletin August 2008
What is Dengue fever? Dengue fever is a zoonotic and vector borne disease that is transmitted when a mosquito bites a human or animal with dengue fever in the blood. Also known as “breakbone fever” or “dandy fever”, the disease is not communicable to other humans and is only transmitted by certain types of mosquitoes.
What is Brucellosis? Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterial genus Brucella. The bacteria are transmitted from animals to humans by ingestion through infected food products, direct contact with an infected animal, or inhalation of aerosols. The disease is an old one that has been known by various names, including Mediterranean fever, Malta fever, gastric
What is Botulism? Botulism is a disease of humans and animals characterised by muscle paralysis, and is potentially fatal. It is caused by extremely potent neurotoxins produced by the environmental spore-forming bacterium Clostridium botulinum and rarely, by botulinum toxin-producing strains of some other Clostridium species. There are five different types of botulism characterised by the
What is Blastomycosis ? Blastomycosis is a disease caused by the fungus Blastomyces. Blastomyces is a thermally-dimorphic fungus meaning it grows as a thread-like mould in the environment and as a yeast (a single-celled fungus) when it causes human infections. The fungus is found in the environment such as moist soil and decomposing organic matter such as wood and
Documents under review. Please contact the Outbreak Response Unit directly: outbreak@nicd.ac.za
What is Avian Influenza? Avian influenza, also known as ‘avian flu’ or ‘bird flu’ is an infection- usually of wild birds- but sometimes also of commercial or domestic poultry. Water birds are the natural host of avian influenza. Avian influenza viruses are within the group of ‘influenza A viruses’ and are classified into subtypes according
What is Arbovirus? More than a hundred arboviruses are known to cause human disease and are transmitted to humans by mosquitos, midges, sand flies and ticks. Endemic arboviral infections are most common in the late summer months when the temperatures are warmer and especially following periods of rainfall. Typically, mosquitoes, ticks and other vectors are
What are Antimicrobial resistance maps? Antimicrobial resistance is a key public health concern that threatens the management of severe clinical infections both locally and globally. The emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) classified within the ESKAPE group of bacteria have important clinical implications for treatment. Surveillance is conducted to determine the magnitude and pattern of
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