Latest News & Developments
Violence disrupts disease prevention efforts, leaving millions vulnerable to deadly infections.
Sierra Leone declared a public health emergency on Monday to combat mpox, announcing it was stepping up surveillance at its borders after confirming two cases of the deadly viral disease.
Lancet Global Health has cautioned that limited understanding of how the disease is transmitted, inadequate response capacity, vaccine shortages and extensive cross-border movement all pose severe challenges to containment, the writer says.
With over 24 Mpox cases reported in South Africa and rising infections across the continent, the WHO and Africa CDC have declared the outbreak a public health emergency. Experts warn that a coordinated international response is essential to prevent further spread.
There are major international hurdles to overcome before Africa and South Africa would be able to produce vaccines locally, among them guaranteed off-take deals, according to Aspen Pharmacare’s Dr Stavros Nicolaou.
The WHO is asking countries with mpox vaccine stockpiles to donate them to countries with ongoing outbreaks.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has officially declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, marking the first such declaration by the agency since its inception in 2017.
The visit follows the European Union’s (EU) recent announcement of a €32 million (about R636. 5 million) effort to increase vaccine production in Ghana
HIV prevalence also varied geographically, ranging from 8% in the Western Cape Province to 22% in KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Many people with HPV do not develop any symptoms but can still infect others through sexual contact.
The GSMA hope that the HealthConnekt Africa initiative will provide the connectivity needed to eventually aid in the fight against the spread of diseases that plague the continent.
In a statement on Tuesday, NFP leader and member of parliament Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam said there has to be a ban or restrictions on the ownership of pit bulls as pets.
In the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, Chinese and African engineers are battling against time to complete the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters.
Africa is the only continent that effected a joint continental strategy for Covid-19 outbreak,” said Dr Riek, regional coordinator for Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Africa CDC has welcomed the decision by the WHO but added that the continent has battled the virus before.
The NICD cautioned that despite the low risk in the country at the moment, health workers should be on high alert for individuals presenting with an unexplained acute rash or skin lesions.
As at 29 May 2022, a total of 21 confirmed cases with one death have been reported from nine states and the FCT - Adamawa (5), Lagos (4), Bayelsa (2), Delta (2), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Imo (1), Rivers (1).
Health officials in Morocco say that there is no monkeypox in the North African country.
UNaids condemns racist and discriminatory media coverage of monkeypox.
While South Africa and the rest of the world continue to make strides in recovering from the Covid-19 global pandemic, a new crisis has hit Europe in the form of monkeypox, leaving many in Africa uncertain.
Nearly 20 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, with more than 100 confirmed or suspected infections, mostly in Europe.
At least 16 countries have reported about 700 cases of BA. 4, while more than 300 cases of BA. 5 have been found across at least 17 countries.
DA spokesperson on health Michele Clarke said the set of regulations, if passed, have the potential to gravely transgress the rights of patients.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla has revealed that almost 50% of the adult population has received a vaccine.
Almost two years after Africa identified its first case of Covid-19 ( February 14, 2020), the World Health Organization (WHO) finds that, if current trends continue, the continent can control the pandemic in 2022.