HomeInfectious Diseases
Infectious Diseases
World TB Day – Simple tests to diagnose TB
A study published by researchers from the University of Cape Town shows that among hospitalised patients with HIV infection, a simple and inexpensive urine...
World TB Day – Risk of TB higher for diabetics
HIV is known to fuel tuberculosis (TB), but the lesser-known threat of diabetes actually places people at greater risk of getting sick with TB....
Birth outcomes not affected by flu vaccine in any trimester
Birth outcomes, specifically birth weight and weeks' gestation of the infant at birth, are not affected by the influenza vaccine during any trimester of...
Evidence of durable protection from attenuated malaria virus vaccine
An attenuated malaria virus vaccine has offered the first evidence of durable protection against multiple heterozygous infections within the same host, according to results...
High-dose vaccine better at preventing deaths in older people
The high-dose flu vaccine appeared to be more effective at preventing post-influenza deaths among older adults than the standard-dose vaccine, at least during a...
Genital herpes in pregnancy linked with double the risk of autism
Women actively infected with genital herpes during early pregnancy had twice the odds of giving birth to a child later diagnosed with autism spectrum...
Advances in Tx of HIV/TB patients discussed at CROI 2017
The diagnostic Xpert Ultra test, set to be launched at the same price as the original Xpert, offers greater sensitivity, but comes at a price,...
WHO updates guidelines for testing, diagnosis and treatment of Hepatitis B and C
The first World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on testing for chronic HBV and HCV infection have been released.
Testing and diagnosis of hepatitis B (HBV)...
Anti-diarrhoea antibiotics favour particularly resistant super bacteria
Anti-diarrhoea antibiotics, especially in Africa, Asia and South America, not only render the tourist susceptible to an ESBL infection, but also lead to the...
Malaria drug stymied by new parasite strain
A drug which is highly effective at treating malaria and commonly used in the UK, failed to cure four patients who contracted the disease...
HIV co-infection increases mortality risk in younger children with TB
Without adequate treatment, children with tuberculosis, especially those younger than five years, are at high risk of death, while children with HIV have an...
Beating C. Diff: A new treatment and restricting common antibiotic
Restricting the use of a common antibiotic was more important than a high profile 'deep clean' of hospitals in massively reducing antibiotic resistant Clostridium...
Drug-resistant TB mostly being spread person-to-person in SA
The worst form of drug-resistant tuberculosis in SA isn't just arising from inadequate treatment, it's mostly being spread from person to person. Researchers tracked...
Number of parasites, not number of bites influence malaria infection
For the first time, researchers have shown that the number of parasites each mosquito carries influences the chance of successful malaria infection.
The finding has...
Exercise and diet can lessen damage caused by malaria
The right diet and exercise can help lessen damage to the heart and skeletal muscles brought on by malaria, according to a University of...
Antibiotic gel helps prevent Lyme disease after tick bite
An antibiotic gel based on azithromycin, an antibiotic with antibacterial properties, helps to prevent the onset of Lyme borreliosis following a tick bite, found...
Zika virus causes Guillain-Barre Syndrome and birth defects
A World Health Organisation evidence analysis confirms that infection with mosquito-borne Zika virus is a cause of the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), as...
How Nigeria beat Ebola
Within three months, Nigeria managed to contain the deadly Ebola virus with only eight deaths, in stark contrast to other West African countries.
Flu vaccination protects against avian flu
University of Chicago research shows 'clear evidence' that a normal immune response to flu vaccination offers protection against dangerous and highly unique strains of influenza such as H7N9 avian flu.
Favipiravir halves Ebola mortality
For the first time, a drug – favipiravir – is showing promising signs of effectiveness, halving mortality in Ebola patients participating in a Guinean study.
Survivors affected by ‘Post Ebola Syndrome’
A growing number of Ebola survivors are complaining of side effects months after their recovery – including vision problems, joint pain, hair and memory loss and anxiety attacks – a condition some doctors are calling 'post-Ebola Syndrome' (PES).
Could Ebola virus be immunising some?
A recent sharp drop in new Ebola infections in West Africa is prompting scientists to wonder whether the virus may be silently immunising some people at the same time as brutally killing their neighbours, writes Reuters Health.
Scientists say Ebola virus is mutating
Scientists tracking the Ebola outbreak in Guinea say the virus has mutated, reports BBC News.
Military-style operation helping defeat Ebola
A military-style operation to fight Ebola in Sierra Leone has helped to dramatically reduce new cases.
Diarrhoea antibiotics help spread superbugs
Taking antibiotics for diarrhoea may put travellers visiting developing parts of the world at higher risk for contracting superbugs and spreading these bacteria to their home countries, according to a Helsinki University study.
New cases of Ebola are declining
New Ebola cases in the three West African countries worst affected by the deadly outbreak of the virus are declining, weekly UN figures show.
Ebola vaccine development accelerates
The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is launching the first eight projects of its Ebola+ programme, to accelerate all aspects of vaccine development and manufacturing as well as deployment and compliance with vaccine regimens and diagnostics. The announcement comes in the run up to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Ebola will feature high on the agenda.
SA healthcare workers on vaccine frontline
SA healthcare workers in Sierra Leone might be among the frontline staff offered experimental Ebola vaccines when clinical trials get under way.
Outbreak traced to first victim
The current Ebola outbreak has been traced back to its first victim – a two-year-old boy called Emile Ouamouno from Guinea – may have been infected by playing in a hollow tree housing a colony of bats.
For future reference – lessons learnt
People fighting Ebola are coming up with lists of lessons learned – not only for the current battle, but also for future outbreaks of deadly contagions.
Trial raises hopes for cheaper rotavirus vaccine
In a phase 3 trial, Rotavac, a rotavirus vaccine developed by an Indian company with help from an international partnership, showed about the same...