After South African scientists sounded the alarm about the new omicron variant, countries around the world closed their borders. Kim Ludbrook/EPA Gemma Ware, The Conversation and Daniel Merino, The Conversation What is it like to discover a new coronavirus variant? In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we hear the inside story from one […]
What would happen if all the mosquitoes in the world disappeared? Curious Kids is a series for children in which we ask experts to answer questions from kids. “Most people in the world absolutely hate mosquitoes. Personally, I don’t mind them – they don’t really bite me, so they do not bother me that much.
What would happen if all the mosquitoes in the world disappeared? Read More »
In South Africa, the burden of communicable diseases greatly threatens the health sector, as recently demonstrated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that placed tremendous pressure on healthcare workers and the sector alike. For this reason, non-pharmaceutical interventions have been, and continue to be our best defence against communicable diseases. Adopting certain behaviour, for instance, healthy hand
The importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions Read More »
Q: My manager has asked me to re-test before I can return to work even though I have been in self-isolation for 10 days. A: At present, re-testing people who have experienced mild illness, and have recovered from COVID-19 is not recommended. A person is considered safe to return to the workplace and discontinue self-isolation
COVID-19 and returning to work Frequently Asked Questions Read More »
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on international malaria control and elimination efforts. According to the latest World Malaria Report, there were an estimated 14 million more cases of malaria in 2020 compared to 2019. Even more concerning was the marked increase in malaria-related deaths. These were mainly in children under the
If your COVID-19 test result has come back positive, follow these practical guidelines to help manage the disease: Refrain from going out and to work. Stop using public transport. Self-isolate, ideally alone in a room and away from other family members or roommates, for a period of 7-days. If practical, avoid sharing a bathroom with
I tested positive for COVID-19, what now? Read More »
In little more than a year from the onset of COVID-19, scientists successfully developed vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus for world-wide use. Three main factors contributed to this extraordinary feat. One, unprecedented collaboration between international scientists. Two, scientists were able to obtain exquisitely detailed images of the virus proteins and the human proteins that they
Want to develop vaccines in Africa? Then invest in expertise and infrastructure Read More »
The increase recent rise in reported cases of dog rabies, specifically in the Eastern Cape province is cause for serious concern. The Eastern Cape Provincial Government is undertaking a mass rabies vaccination rollout targeting dogs, to curb the spread of this vaccine-preventable disease. But one cannot help to wonder how we got here? Are rabies
Rabies: Bark up the right tree through pet vaccination Read More »
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in Africa amid insufficient vaccination rollout, viral haemorrhagic fever has again raised its head. This adds to public health turmoil on the continent where resources to respond to emerging and re-emerging epidemic prone zoonotic diseases remain limited. In the first week of August 2021, a Marburg virus disease outbreak
Marburg in Guinea: the value of lessons from managing other haemorrhagic outbreaks Read More »
Almost 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the release of new case numbers is an integral part of the day for many South Africans. Questions like “When will the third wave end?” and “Will there be a fourth wave?” abound and opinions, even among experts, are varied. The challenges in interpreting COVID-19 case and hospitalisation
COVID-19: It’s time to look at the finer details of South Africa’s pandemic picture Read More »
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