Health

No, soaring COVID-19 cases are not due to more testing

COVID-19 cases are surging upward around the U.S., reaching 100,000 daily cases for the first time on Nov. 4 and 150,000 only eight days later.

2020-11-19T13:34:53Z

Children can be stealth superspreaders of malaria to mosquitoes

These asymptomatic infections can undermine efforts to eliminate malaria.

2020-11-18T17:03:24Z

Shopping on Black Friday? Here’s what you should & shouldn’t keep in the fridge

As Black Friday approaches, people will be looking to save on items and this will taking advantage of specials like two for one and bulk shopping.

2020-11-24T12:00:03Z

COVID-19: Nearly 3,000 new cases recorded

The Department of Health reported 2,888 confirmed cases in the last 24 hours.

2020-11-19T04:01:38Z

Fuel price outlook for December: good news likely for petrol consumers

If current trends persist, petrol will be cheaper in December, but diesel prices could go up slightly.

2020-11-16T13:37:00Z

Man's 'heart attack' was really side effect from swallowed battery

When a man arrived at the emergency room, it looked to doctors like he was having a heart attack. But that was a false alarm: The man had actually swallowed a battery that messed with his electrocardiogram (EKG).

2020-11-23T22:05:01Z

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 95% effective in final trial

Pfizer and BioNTec are preparing to submit their vaccine to US regulators for approval for emergency use. The two pharma firms claim the product is effective in 95% of the cases with no major safety concerns.

2020-11-18T18:28:37Z

Health minister urges authorities to identify COVID-19 super spreader sites

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize asked health authorities to determine the effects of alcohol-related admissions in hospitals.

2020-11-17T16:33:12Z

SARS-CoV-2 relative found lurking in frozen bats from Cambodia

For the first time, close relatives of the novel coronavirus have been found outside China.

2020-11-24T18:23:01Z

COVID-19 rapid antibody tests available countrywide

It takes just 10 minutes to get the results and two types of antibodies are tested for.

2020-11-19T08:32:18Z

Coronavirus: UNICEF warns of 'lost generation' as virus hits children's services

With health services disrupted and poverty soaring due to the pandemic, "the future of an entire generation is at risk," warned UNICEF. The agency called on governments to do more to improve the services for kids.

2020-11-19T04:58:55Z

Ultrasound captures worms squirming in a man's stomach

Doctors observed a "tubular ... structure that moved with a curling motion" inside his stomach.

2020-11-21T12:41:41Z

National Treasury proposes to slash R2bn from Limpopo’s education budget

A R2bn budget cut for the Limpopo Department of Education comes in a province where education infrastructure is in shambles — and where R200m was diverted from the department’s infrastructure grant to PPE procurement.

2020-11-18T10:52:12Z

2,270 new COVID-19 infections recorded in SA, 58 more people die

The Health Department has confirmed 2,270 new infections in the past 24-hour cycle.

2020-11-23T05:17:37Z

Bangladesh: Male victims of domestic violence demand gender-neutral laws

Women in Bangladesh are far more likely to be victims of domestic violence than men, but a growing number of men complain that they are also facing abuse. Experts say gender-neutral laws are needed to tackle the problem.

2020-11-21T06:06:00Z

Mkhize: Behavioural change most effective solution to contain COVID-19 spread

Some provinces, including the Eastern Cape, are seeing an alarming rise in infections.

2020-11-18T06:33:18Z

NMB hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 surge

The ripple effect of COVID-19's resurgence can be seen in the increasing numbers of staff who are testing positive or showing signs of fatigue.

2020-11-23T05:15:34Z

Mkhize concerned over rise in latest COVID-19 infection figures

South Africa has recorded 2,080 new coronavirus cases, pushing the total number of infections since the outbreak to more than 769,000.

2020-11-24T06:06:20Z

Carnival Returns to Bond Market Without Ships as Collateral

For the first time since the pandemic, cruise operator Carnival Corp. is selling debt without pledging its ships as collateral, testing the depths of a market rally that has seen bond buyers betting big on hard-hit industries now that a Covid vaccine is in sight.

2020-11-19T18:19:16Z

Could COVID-19 immunity last decades? Here’s the science.

Of course, rare cases of reinfection show that immunity is not long-lasting for everyone.

2020-11-20T18:24:02Z

Nehawu to march on Thursday over public servant salary increases

The union's general secretary, Zola Saphetha, said that the union would march this coming Thursday when the Health Council was meeting.

2020-11-24T11:43:14Z

Mysteries of COVID smell loss finally yield some answers

Explanations begin to arise at the molecular level for this vexing but commonplace symptom

2020-11-19T13:34:55Z

Deadly hemorrhagic fever in Bolivia can spread between people

A deadly virus that causes fevers, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding gums, skin rash and pain behind the eyes can now jump from one person to another.

2020-11-16T18:46:41Z

NMB officials say more beds will be made available as COVID-19 cases spike

The municipality has seen a rise in cases, with the Eastern Cape province having now recorded nearly 109,000 infections.

2020-11-17T10:02:39Z

AstraZeneca COVID vaccine is 70% effective data shows

Though the late stage trial results showed an efficacy of 70% on average, up to 90% of people can be prevented from getting the coronavirus if a lower dose is used. AstraZeneca said the vaccine is "highly effective."

2020-11-23T09:28:21Z

COVID-19 cases in SA increase by 2,080

The Department of Health said the current testing positivity rate of 14 percent is concerning.

2020-11-24T04:35:16Z

Section27: COVID-19 demonstrated urgent need for safer sanitation in SA schools

Half a decade after 5-year-old Michael Komape drowned in a school pit toilet, those who fought for the family to find justice, like Section27, said that much more still needed to be done.

2020-11-19T07:34:08Z

Coronavirus digest: Germany sets new daily record in COVID infections

Germany has recorded 23,648 positive coronavirus tests over the past 24 hours, while the death toll rose by 260. Despite a downward trend, India has crossed the 9 million case mark. Follow DW for more.

2020-11-20T10:36:45Z

Coronavirus: Clinics in Naples, Italy, on the brink of collapse

Campania, a region in southern Italy, is drowning in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Public hospitals in Naples can no longer accept all patients. Delali Sakpa reports from Naples.

2020-11-23T17:17:37Z

Mkhize: New wave of EC COVID-19 infections a cause of great concern

Over the last 24-hour cycle, 3,105 new COVID-19 infections were identified, bringing the total number of cases to over 762,000.

2020-11-21T07:11:01Z

Woman's stomach pain turns out to be rare case of 'wandering spleen'

The organ shifted when ligaments around it became loose.

2020-11-18T22:18:35Z

Rebuilding Notre Dame will be incredibly hard

A new documentary from NOVA shows the delicate and difficult work of restoring the Notre Dame Cathedral after the April 2019 fire that destroyed its roof.

2020-11-23T20:19:48Z

Coronavirus: WHO warns of COVID-19 third wave, says Europe failed to learn from Asia

The World Health Organization's (WHO) special COVID-19 envoy has slammed Europe's response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying countries failed to take advantage of a summer lull in cases to prepare for the next wave.

2020-11-22T10:12:48Z

How early was the coronavirus really circulating in Italy?

A new study suggests as early as September of last year, but some experts are skeptical.

2020-11-18T13:03:19Z

Why do some animal sleep so much?

Body size and diet might impact how much sleep mammals need.

2020-11-21T12:11:37Z

Coronavirus digest: Germany may start vaccinating in December

The first coronavirus immunization centers could get going in December, German Health Minister Jens Spahn has speculated. UNICEF says 2 billion doses could be shipped to poor countries in 2021. DW rounds up the latest

2020-11-23T07:28:05Z

Coronavirus: WHO advises against remdesivir for hospitalized COVID-19 patients

A World Health Organization panel said the anti-viral drug remdesivir should not be used to treat COVID-19 patients, no matter how ill they are. The experts said the drug has "no important effect" on death rates.

2020-11-20T06:32:35Z

SA records 1,987 new COVID-19 cases, 119 more deaths

The Eastern Cape has the most active cases, with 9,890 infections.

2020-11-18T04:48:17Z

Eswatini Prime Minister in hospital, tests positive for Covid-19

Eswatini prime minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini was admitted in hospital with mild Covid-19 symptoms.

2020-11-23T20:11:46Z

Immunity basics: How the immune system works

The pandemic is not over yet and we still need to be mindful of health and hygiene measures.

2020-11-18T13:44:53Z

US pharma firm Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective

Moderna said that Phase 3 stage analysis suggested its coronavirus vaccine could prevent COVID-19. The news comes a week after Pfizer and German drug-maker BioNTech announced a vaccine of their own.

2020-11-16T13:11:02Z

How to partner for a competitive edge

Partnering, and to partner for a competitive edge, has existed as a concept for millennia. Among the very first known business partnerships occurred in medieval times, spurring important economic revolutions such as the Commercial Revolution that occurred in 13th century Europe. As we move deeper into the 21st century, the idea of partnering for a competitive edge within shared markets is gaining ascendency as organisations seek ways to reach...

2020-11-23T04:31:07Z

Coronavirus digest: EU agrees vaccine deal with Moderna

The EU has an agreement in place with US firm Moderna for 160 million doses of its experimental vaccine. Meanwhile, Russia's Sputnik V vaccine producers have said their jab is 95% effective. DW rounds up the latest.

2020-11-24T13:47:36Z

Does coronavirus mass testing make sense?

Austria plans to introduce mass testing for COVID-19, a measure already taken by Luxembourg and Slovakia. Should larger countries like Germany also make the effort to check their entire population?

2020-11-17T18:16:24Z

Sadag calls on youth dealing with anxiety, depression to reach out

The COVID-19 lockdown has had a severe impact on learners and tertiary students this year and many are still playing catch up to ensure they pass.

2020-11-16T12:31:03Z

EC Health Dept warns province under pressure from rising COVID-19 infections

The province alone has reported an increase of over 1,300 new infections in the last reporting cycle.

2020-11-24T08:36:42Z

Life Healthcare takes Covid-19, Scanmed knock

Life Healthcare yesterday reported a 45.1 percent decline in earnings for the year to end September, hurt by an impairment charge in Scanmed, Covid-19 outbreak and a provision for additional expected credit losses.

2020-11-20T07:32:16Z

Nehawu: SA’s overstretched healthcare system won’t survive second COVID wave

The union held a briefing where they announced they would be leading the nationwide marches by community healthcare workers on Thursday.

2020-11-24T18:08:12Z

Coronavirus: Next two weeks 'critical' for Japan

As cases begin an upswing into a third wave, experts fear that too many people have become indifferent to the dangers posed by the virus and are taking more risks. Julian Ryall reports from Tokyo.

2020-11-24T16:35:38Z

Large Africa study makes important breakthrough in HIV prevention

Researchers have been working hard to find effective HIV prevention measures. Most notable is the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pill known as Truvada.

2020-11-16T09:26:32Z