Author name: Siyabonga Mbatha

Key Findings from the 2022 Antenatal HIV Sentinel Survey

Is the Antenatal HIV Sentinel Survey Unveiling a Shift in HIV Trends?  HIV, known as the human immunodeficiency virus, targets the body’s infection-fighting cells, weakening its ability to combat illnesses. Transmission occurs through contact with specific bodily fluids, notably during unprotected intercourse or the sharing of injection drug tools. Without treatment, HIV can progress to …

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Unveiling Antifungal-Resistant Ringworm: Trichophyton Indotineae Case in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Could This Be the Start of a New Era of Antifungal-Resistant Infections? Ringworm (also known as tinea or dermatophytosis) is a common and often highly contagious fungal infection that involves the superficial layers of the skin, hair, and nails. Ringworm infections of the scalp or nails and extensive skin infections need a prolonged course of …

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Comprehensive Influenza Surveillance Report: South Africa’s 2023 Insights

Where Does South Africa Stand in the Battle Against Influenza?  Influenza, also known as “flu”, is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. Primarily, influenza spreads through respiratory droplets which you breathe in or get from contaminated surfaces. The most common seasonal influenza strains in South Africa are influenza A(H3N2), A(H1N1)pdm09, and influenza B. …

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Evaluating SA’s Congenital Syphilis Notification Surveillance System

How Effective is South Africa’s Congenital Syphilis Notification Surveillance System?  Congenital syphilis poses a severe threat to infants, being a debilitating and potentially life-threatening infection. When a pregnant mother carries syphilis, the spirochete Treponema pallidum can be transmitted to the unborn infant through the placenta, a process known as vertical transmission. Up to 80% of …

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Diabetes Mellitus Mortality by Major Occupation Category in South Africa, 2009—2016

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 …

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