Latest News & Developments
WHO expert urges member states to continue with strong surveillance and sequence sharing so that proper steps can be taken to ‘potentially modify’ the advice for the world.
Chemicals in green tea, black tea, and matcha (powdered green tea) are effective in inactivating the Omicron subvariant of Covid-19.
WHO was seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases worldwide, as well as an increase in the number of hospitalisations and patients in intensive care units, which is ‘more worrying. ’
Eris was a sub-variant of Omicron, which caused the fourth wave in SA.
Recently, the latest variant, EG. 5 (also known as Eris), had grabbed the attention of public health experts around the world
South Africa’s Department of Health is urging people to get vaccinated.
The latest omicron offshoot is particularly prevalent in India, where it has sparked a rise in infections, and a return to mask mandates in parts of the country.
Dr Velile Ngidi a public health medicine specialist said as health professionals it is illegal for them to give a patient medication without explaining to them what it was.
Surveillance and early detection of new pathogens and variants is the weapon our scientists are using to keep their finger on the pulse.
South Africa has been urged to increase the rate of Covid-19 testing.
As of 9 January 2023, more than 650 sublineages of Omicron have been identified, of which more than 200 have been detected in South Africa.
The National Health Department said it would not be imposing any travel restrictions or internal measures after the detection of a new Omicron subvariant, XBB. 1. 5, but the country will soon update its vaccination programme.
The new variant, XBB. 1. 5 or “Kraken variant”, is one of the 100 sub-variants of the Omicron strain.
The minister said they have engaged scientists, the World Health Organization and the ministerial advisory committee, who suggested that there is no need to impose travel restrictions internally or for any country.
Precautionary measures that will however be taken include the rollout of vaccine booster shots, not only to people over 50 years, but also all adults over 18 years of age.
Health and Wellness MEC Dr Nomafrench Mbombo has called for the public to remain calm and careful in light of the Covid-19 XBB. 1. 5 subvariant.
Passengers should be recommended to wear masks in high-risk settings such as long-haul flights.
The mutation was first detected by scientists at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town over the weekend.
The Health Department has confirmed the highly transmissible sub-variant of Omicron XBB. 1. 5, also referred to as the “Kraken” variant, has been detected in the country.
The World Health Organization is monitoring XBB. 1. 5 because of how quickly it has supplanted other sub-variants.
Professor Tulio de Oliveira, the director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation at Stellenbosch University, said the XBB. 1. 5 variants is responsible for causing a surge in Covid-19 infections on the east coast of America.
The variant which is nicknamed “kraken” by scientists is spreading quickly in the US. The Department of Health released a statement on its social media platforms on Saturday.
Norwegian Cruise Line provides new holiday options for South Africans and brings more inbound tourism to our shores.
Calls for mask wearing amid a new Covid-19 variant has been dismissed as fake news by the health department.
The Canadian federal government has announced the removal of all Covid-19 entry restrictions, effective from October 1.