Day: August 19, 2022

While monkeypox is considered “low risk” in South Africa, the Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla says the high number of confirmed positive cases is becoming a cause for concern.

This comes as the Minister announced the country’s fifth monkeypox case during a media briefing on Friday.

According to Phaahla, the latest patient is a 28-year-old man from Johannesburg with a travel history to the Netherlands and Spain.

This means the country has recorded five positive cases between 22 June and 17 August 2022.

“Although monkeypox is less contagious than smallpox and COVID-19, and causes less severe illness, the current rising number of confirmed positive cases is becoming a cause for concern and cannot be taken for granted,” he told the media.

Data shows that the first two cases recorded in June had no recent travel, while the third one was a tourist from Switzerland and has since fully recovered and returned home.

“There is no link between the first four cases, while the team is trying to establish if there is a link between the fourth and fifth cases since both of them have been to the same country, Spain, which has so far recorded over 5 000 positive cases and two deaths.”

On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the current monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

According to the Minister, South Africa never recorded positive monkeypox cases before June 2022.

“While the WHO has not recommended any travel restrictions, it is important for travellers to endemic countries to alert health officials on the situation to enable them to guide case detection and management.”

Phaahla said there was no specific vaccine for monkeypox in South Africa, while there are currently three in use worldwide for the prevention of this viral disease, which none are registered locally.

According to the Minister, South Africa stopped vaccination for smallpox, which is similar to monkeypox, when the global immunisation campaign ended due to the successful eradication of smallpox.

“Since then, there have been no smallpox vaccines offered to the general population.”

However, according to Phaahla, most people over the age of 40 will have some immunity to monkeypox from their smallpox vaccinations.

Minister Phaahla said there are currently 28 000 reported cases of monkeypox cases worldwide and 11 deaths worldwide.

Meanwhile, the WHO’s latest data shows that the cases have now topped 35 000.

“The scientists have advised that at the current moment, there is no need for mass vaccination because the situation is under control.”

However, he said port health officials are continuing with screening measures, including visual observation, temperature screening and analysis of travellers’ health questionnaires at the ports of entry.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Minister Nzimande to host the roundtable on Youth Health and Wellness in the Post School Education and Training Sector

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande invites members of the media to a roundtable on youth health and wellness in the post school education and training sector.

The roundtable will be held under the theme: “Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights for an Equal Future”

The aims to affect a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to improving the mental health status of women in the PSET sector.

The lifetime risk of experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) is 45.6% for South African women; well above the global average of 35% (WHO). Sexual gender-based violence, and intimate partner violence are amongst the most prevalent forms of GBV young women aged 16-25 years are especially vulnerable towards (UNICEF).

The post-school education and training sector (PSET) is home to over 2,5 million youth, where more than 51% of these are adolescent girls & young women between the ages of 15 – 24 years old. With statistics indicating that 10% of all reported rape cases comes from the higher education sector (MRC) woman students fall squarely into this high-risk demographic and sexual assault and violence against women on campuses is a major concern.

The PSET sector is a microcosm of society, reflecting the pertinent societal issues that we as a country are faced with. The same sector also has high incidence of mental ill-health because of gender disadvantage, poverty, health crises, economic inequalities, gender violence, HIV and alcohol and substance abuse.

The roundtable will take place as follows:

Date: Monday, 22 August 2022

Venue: Constitutional Hill (Johannesburg)

Time: 9h30

The roundtable will:

1. Amplify the voices and priorities of women in institutions of higher learning

2. Engage men, young boys and challenge masculinities in the PSET sector

3. Provide participants a unique opportunity to learn from first-hand experience and recommendations from the affected parties

4. Draw attention to the critical challenges to preventing and responding to GBV, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse in institutions of higher learning

5. Advocate for solidarity around the rights of women and the fight against gender-based violence

6. Need for CIVIC EDUCATION in our society in order to challenge toxic social norms

7. Protocols and minimum standards as part of the Higher Education GBV Framework 2020, on managing cases of sexual violence on campuses

8. See government actors commit to strengthen the prevention, risk and response to GBV, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse.

Source: Government of South Africa

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has confirmed that there has been no rise in COVID-19 cases, hospitalisation and deaths since all the restrictions were lifted in June.

In June, South Africa dropped all of all remaining Coronavirus-related restrictions, including the wearing of masks.

The Minister was on Friday speaking during a media briefing on COVID-19 and government’s response to the monkeypox outbreak.

Since the lifting of restrictions, Phaahla said, COVID-19 tests, cases, hospitalisations and deaths have all continued to decline.

“This is an indication that we acted in the public’s interest once we were confident that the level of risk of another flare-up was very low.”

This is the reason South Africa has now shifted from daily to weekly reporting as the country does for other respiratory diseases such as influenza.

He said COVID-19 is currently at a low level and showing a shift to an endemic pattern.

However, the Minister said COVID-19 tests, cases, hospitalisations and deaths indicators are closely monitored on an ongoing basis for any signals of concern.

In addition, he said two sub-variants, BA4 and BA5 are still predominant, but the numbers are very low.

“They have presented with a milder picture in South Africa likely the result of high levels of immunity from previous infection or vaccination which offer protection against severe illness,” he said.

Vaccination

Phaahla also warned the risk of contracting COVID-19 is still high for those who are aged 50 and above, the youngsters, and the unvaccinated.

“I would like to emphasise that COVID-19 is a fickle virus and it remains possible for new variants to emerge, which is why we conduct surveillance and sequencing on an ongoing basis to allow rapid detection should this occur.”

He told the media that vaccination is still the best way to ensure immunity and prevent severe infections.

“For the best protection, everyone is urged to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting boosters if you are eligible.”

While vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection, some people who are vaccinated will get what we refer to as “breakthrough infections”.

However, he said these infections tend to be less severe than those in unvaccinated people.

As of Wednesday this week, the country had administered 37 343 941 doses, with 20 307 956 adults now vaccinated, which is 51.03% of the population over 18 years.

The Minister said the current high-level statistics show a very slow uptake of vaccinations since the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions.

“However, we are pleased that people are still seeking vaccination, both those who are coming for first doses and those who are returning for boosters.”

Children

Phaahla said the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Vaccines has this past week recommended that children aged between five and 11 who are at risk of severe COVID disease should be offered vaccination.

“Vaccination of healthy children in this age group is not recommended for now and several logistical issues that must be addressed before vaccination of children in this age group can be implemented but we will announce as soon as the matters are all in order,” he added.

Source: South African Government News Agency