Mzansi Updates

SA Malaria Outbreak This article should be taken as a Breaking News update because it raises awareness about the recent discovery of the deadly Malaria disease in South Africa , where Malaria should not exist. SOUTH AFRICA: The Department of Health in Free State has confirmed 3 cases of malaria in the non-endemic Xhariep District , resulting in 1 death and 2 hospitalisations.  How the Malaria disease infected the individuals  The cluster raises particular concern because none of the affected individuals had recently travelled to a malaria-endemic country or region. The confirmed cases are all from the same family: a 53-year-old man who tragically died, a 50-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old man who is currently hospitalised at Mediclinic Bloemfontein , Free State, SA.  The Department of Health has stated that both surviving patients are in stable condition. Authorities are investigating whether Odyssean malaria , or airport malaria , is involved. This form of malaria ...

  The pursuit of cures for  HIV and cancer  involves complex scientific challenges unique to each disease. Here’s a summary of their timelines and probabilities of success: HIV: Likely to See a "Functional Cure" First 2030s Here is the reason why. Functional vs. Sterilising Cure : A " functional cure " (long-term remission without daily medication) is more achievable in the next 10–15 years. Examples like the " Berlin Patient " and " London Patient " (cured via bone marrow transplants ) prove it’s possible, albeit not scalable yet.   Targeted Mechanism: HIV is a single virus with a well-understood structure, making it easier to focus research on eradicating or suppressing it.   Progress in Gene Therapy : CRISPR-based treatments and "shock-and-kill" strategies (to flush latent viruses from reservoirs) are advancing rapidly.    Initial Challenges The scalability and accessibility of therapies like  gene editing  remain significant hu...