Case Studies

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 […]

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

Does Occupation Impact Diabetes Mortality? In South Africa, diabetes mellitus (DM) is an escalating non-communicable disease (NCD) and a leading cause of death. Diabetes mellitus is characterised by a chronic hyperglycemia-induced triad of symptoms (polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia) caused by elevated blood glucose levels and metabolic dysregulation. In 2009, more than 2 million people aged