Health e News
Scientists think a newly discovered mutation of the Delta variant in the UK could ‘possibly be more contagious.’ This new ‘Delta Plus’ variant is spreading in England and although not a ‘variant of concern’ yet, it could hamper vaccination rollouts worldwide. Fully vaccinated South Africans needn’t be too concerned for the time being, as vaccine efficacy remains high. Like its predecessor which triggered South Africa’s deadly third wave, the new strain, known as ‘Delta Plus'(AY.4.2), could be more contagious. This is currently under intense scrutiny as England deals with yet another surge of infections. Delta variant plus: possibly more contagious The UK Health Security Agency announced last week that this new variant accounted for 6% of all genetic sequences of the COVID-19 virus in the last week of September is “on an increasing trajectory”. According to Prof Francois Balloux, director of the University College London’s (UCL) Genetics Instiute, it could
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Political parties and their leaders have spent two months knocking on doors, trying to win votes in this local government election. But where do their commitments lie when it comes to delivering good health services, and what does the constitution hold them accountable for? “We just notice one another suffering from the same thing. Only to find that these illnesses are caused by the way that we live here,” Lerator Tskea, a resident of Organic Market informal settlement in Johannesburg, told Health-e News. Tskea says the settlement is overcrowded and basic services are almost non-existent. There are about 500 shacks in the settlement. The City of Johannesburg established the Organic Market informal settlement in 2017 after the High Court ruled that it had to find space for people displaced after being evicted from a private building. Refuse removal and good health Tseka says refuse removal is irregular. The community uses
Voters are urged to make use of pop-up COVID-19 vaccine sites at voting stations as South Africans gear up to make their mark in Monday’s 2021 Municipal Elections. These additional sites have been put in place as government intensifies efforts to get two-thirds of the country vaccinated by the end of the year. As of yesterday, only 30.3% of the South African population had been fully vaccinated. Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, said there will be at least 1 000 pop-up sites at various voting stations across the country. Convenience and accessibility are the two main factors behind this initiative. Two birds with one stone “We are targeting those areas where the uptake of vaccines has been low. We hope that people can cast their ballots and get vaccinated in one trip,” said Phaahla. The Johnson and Johnson (J&J) single dose vaccine will be prioritised at the pop-up sites. However,
Traditional healers are hugely popular in South Africa. They also hold a lot of sway among community members who consult healers first when seeking advice or treatment. These alternative practitioners are vital in addressing mental health challenges in communities across the country. It is estimated that there are about 200 000 traditional healers as compared to 975 registered psychiatrists – who mostly practise in urban areas and the private sector. However, more than 80% of the population are dependent on the public sector which has limited mental healthcare services. Inside knowledge Dr Lerato Dikobe-Kalane, a psychiatrist and member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), said healers shouldn’t be taken lightly. This is especially true given the limited access to psychiatric treatment in the SA public health sector. “They have intimate knowledge of traditional medicine and cultural and spiritual practices and beliefs. The community respects them and their advice
Most men think breast cancer is a disease that only affects women. It’s this train of thought which proves to be dangerous since most males are only diagnosed at a later stage. Kelvin Woods is a perfect example after ignoring a lump under his right nipple. The Breast Health Foundation recorded that in South Africa, 1-3% of all breast cancers happen in men. Statistics have shown that one in 28 women in South Africa may develop breast cancer in their lives. This represents about 25% of all cancers in women. Dr Francois Malherbe, a specialist Breast and Endocrine Surgeon at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, underlined the importance of early detection in successfully treating the disease. “The incidence of breast cancer among South African women is increasing and it is one of the most common cancers among women in South Africa. Although it predominantly affects woman, it can also
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A new study from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were highly effective in preventing hospitalisation among adolescents aged between 12 and 17. The clinical trial showed that the vaccine was effective in preventing COVID-19. However, researchers wanted to look at the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine in preventing hospitalisation among adolescents. The control case study included patients aged 12 to 18 years admitted to paediatric hospitals. The study took place from June to September 2021. It included 572 eligible patients. Various reasons led to the exclusion of 108 patients. At least 56 were partially vaccinated or had their second dose between zero and 13 days before getting sick. Among the 464 hospitalised adolescents (179 case-patients and 285 controls) the average age was 15 years. At least 72% had at least one underlying condition, including obesity, and 68% attended
A once successful businessman shares his story of how he became homeless at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Already hooked on drugs, his life took a turn for the worst once President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the country would be going into Alert Level 5 lockdown. Carlos Filipe Mesquita owned a record company, had won two South African Music Awards (SAMAs), and had a property in upper Sea Point. After trying out cocaine, he turned to alcohol in a bid to stop his cravings, but it didn’t work. Crystal meth became his new poison and before he knew it, he was on the streets. Although the president mentioned that temporary shelters must be identified to accommodate homeless people for at least 21 days before handing them over to municipalities, his request to stay home wasn’t possible for thousands of destitute people. ‘More of a concentration camp’ “I was
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During the course of the 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health last week, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced the results of TB-PRACTECAL, the first-ever multi-country, randomised, controlled clinical trial to report on the effectiveness and safety of a six-month treatment regimen for multidrug resistant TB (DR-TB). Historically this is a form of TB that is very difficult to treat, requiring multidrug regimens that have to be given for a period of 9-24 months. MSF and partners tested a regimen of four medications (known as “BPaLM”) containing two of three new medicines that have been developed in recent years. The study compared the results of this four-drug, six-month regimen to those obtained from a group that received the locally accepted standard of DR-TB care offered in the public healthcare system. Overwhelmingly, a total of 89 per cent of patients on the new regimen were cured, compared to 52 per cent
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Experts and parents have weighed in on the National Health Department’s decision to start vaccinating children aged between 12 and 17 with a single dose of of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as from today, evoking a mixed bag of reactions. The Department of Health is hoping that half of the 6.5 million children falling in this cohort – 3.25 million – will be jabbed by mid-January 2022 as they start their academic years either at school or university. Currently, Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is the only jab that has been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for use in children 12 years and older. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Pfizer vaccine is 93% effective against hospitalisation in 12 to 18-year-olds. Older people need to be prioritised But the decision to administer the single Pfizer dose has raised quite
With the local government elections less than two weeks ago, the Gauteng Command Council is warning the province could enter a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in November. Gauteng exited the third wave three weeks ago as new infections steadily declined. There was a slight uptick on Tuesday with a 1.6 percent increase in new infections in South Africa as a whole. Gauteng Premier David Makhura has expressed concern that the municipal election, scheduled for November 1, could be a super spreader event. “If we had more vaccinations, we wouldn’t be as worried. We are not even at 50% (nationally) with regards to single Pfizer doses given. We would be happier if we were at least 60%, and we still have a very long way to go,” he added. The government had set a target of immunising 70 percent of adults with at least one dose by year-end. Makhura
Local clinical trials have started on antiviral pills that can be administered in place of the vaccine injection to prevent COVID-19 infection, which – if successful – would address vaccine hesitancy among people who are afraid of needles. By Max Matavire. The African Health Research Institute has started clinical trials on antiviral pills that will potentially be offered as an alternative to the vaccine injection to prevent COVID-19 infections. This is according to the institute’s deputy director, Professor Thumbi Ndungu, who said that the results of the trials are expected in about six months’, adding that the study is expected to attract thousands of participants. “We do not know how effective it will be, as the results will only be out in six months. The clinical trials have already begun for antivirals that can be taken to prevent infections. If found to be effective, it would be a very significant
A new way to fight the Covid-19 pandemic is on the horizon. Current treatments are expensive and require patients to be admitted to hospital. But a drug developed by Merck and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics is on the cusp of changing this. Here is what you need to know about the Covid-19 pill, Molnupiravir. What is Molnupiravir? It’s an oral antiviral medicine that people can take at home which treats mild to moderate cases of Covid-19. Antivirals are medications that help your body fight off certain viruses that can cause disease. Antiviral drugs can also protect you from getting viral infections or spreading them. Why is it the current buzzword in the treatment of Covid-19? It cuts the risk of hospitalisation or death by 50 percent in adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Of 385 patients who received the drug, only 28 patients were hospitalised compared to 53 out of 377 who