The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has called for urgent international funding to support experimental Ebola treatment trials in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Africa CDC said at least $18 million was needed immediately. It warned that funding delays could weaken efforts to contain the outbreak and lead to preventable deaths. Researchers are preparing to launch clinical trials…
Tag: Infectious Diseases
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Hantavirus Border Screening: South Africa Reviews Protocols
The detection of two hantavirus-linked cases entering South Africa has sparked a critical review of the nation’s Hantavirus Border Screening effectiveness. Following a briefing to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health by Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, MPs are questioning whether current port-of-entry controls can reliably intercept serious infectious threats. The incident stems from an outbreak on the Dutch-flagged cruise vessel, MV…
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Asymptomatic TB is the Hidden Driver of Transmission
Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s toughest infectious diseases. It is curable, yet it still sickens millions each year and kills tens of thousands in South Africa. One reason is that TB can spread quietly. People can carry active disease in their lungs and remain infectious while feeling fine. This state is increasingly described as asymptomatic TB. Classic TB symptoms…
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AIDS-Related Deaths 2024: The Last Mile
Despite fading from the forefront of the global news cycle, the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to exact a heavy toll on South Africa’s healthcare system and economy. According to the latest estimates, 53,000 people died of AIDS-related complications in South Africa in 2024. While the country has made commendable strides over the past two decades – most notably by enrolling approximately…
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Global Fund Financing Crisis and African Health Risks
The era of expansive multilateral health financing appears to be waning, as evidenced by the sombre outcome of last week’s high-stakes financing event for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Despite rhetoric about international solidarity, the Global Fund financing crisis was laid bare when the organisation raised only $11.34bn, falling woefully short of its $18bn target. Held…
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TB Deaths Decline to 54,000, But Critical Treatment Gaps Remain
South Africa recorded approximately 54,000 deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in 2024, according to the latest World TB Report from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The figures confirm a slow but steady downward trend in TB deaths in recent years. This marks a significant improvement from two decades ago. During that time, the epidemic, fueled by the peak of the HIV…
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South Africa’s TB Crisis Claims Over 500,000 Lives in Nine Years
More than half a million people in South Africa died from tuberculosis (TB) between 2015 and 2023. This is a staggering toll for a disease that has been treatable for decades. Delivering the state of TB in South Africa before Parliament, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed the country continues to lose thousands of lives each year. This occurs despite…
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Malaria Progress Stalls as Resurgence Looms
The global fight against malaria has stalled after two decades of significant progress. Campaigners warned yesterday that a “perfect storm” of climate change, population growth, and funding gaps threatens a deadly resurgence. A new report by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (Alma) and Malaria No More UK states that insufficient funding for increasingly costly prevention programmes is putting decades of…
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Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis Threatens Global Health
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a dire warning over the escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). They revealed that soaring numbers of drug-resistant bacterial infections are severely undermining modern medicine. As a result, millions of lives are at risk globally. In a stark announcement on Monday, the United Nations’ health agency revealed that in 2023, one in six…
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Generic HIV Prevention Drug to Cost Just $40 Annually from 2027
In a monumental step forward for global public health, Indian pharmaceutical companies Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Hetero Labs have announced they will produce and sell generic versions of a revolutionary HIV prevention drug. It will be available for around $40 per year. Availability is expected from 2027. The drug, lenacapavir, is a long-acting injectable developed by Gilead Sciences. It has…
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Children’s Lives at Risk as US Proposes Slashing Funds for Gavi
In a move putting children’s lives at risk, the US government has announced its intention to cut funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. It is a key organisation credited with saving millions of lives through childhood immunisation. The decision comes at a critical time, as rising vaccine hesitancy contributes to a resurgence of preventable diseases like measles worldwide. The proposed…
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Rare Fungal Infection Poses New Threat in South Africa
Doctors in Bloemfontein have confirmed a new case. It is the first of its kind in the region. This rare fungal infection is very aggressive. Researchers found it in a severely immunocompromised patient. This poses a new and dangerous threat. A team from UFS and NHLS found the case. It is a world-first in an HIV-positive person. Health officials say…